Motorists in Europe who own electric vehicles can drive across the continent, confident that they will be able to recharge their vehicles in different countries. On the Asian continent, that same capability may take a while to realise but a start has been made by Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific in the Malaysian Peninsular. The two companies have partnered to make road trips in electric vehicles (EVs) between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang a possibility.
This initiative is the first cross-border high-performance charging (HPC) network in Southeast Asia which will drive the future of electric mobility in the region starting from one of the world’s busiest international land border crossings at the Sultan Iskandar Building and Woodlands Checkpoint at the southern tip of the peninsular. While it is not possible to do so with current travel restrictions between the two countries, the two companies are gearing up for the time when the borders will reopen, and motorists will be able to travel again across the Causeway and Second Link.
Through this partnership, 6 Shell stations will be equipped with 180 kW direct-current (DC) chargers, offering the highest charging capacity currently available in Singapore and Malaysia. The first 4 stations will be ready during the second half of 2021 and the remaining two by the first half of 2022.
The chargers come with two CCS Type 2 charging connectors, allowing a single vehicle to be charged at up to 180 kW, or two vehicles to charge simultaneously at up to 90 kW each. The sites will be integrated in the existing Shell charging networks, comprising 18 Shell Recharge 50 kW fast charge points at Shell stations and 87 Greenlots public charge points in Singapore, as well as 18 ‘Reserve + Shell Recharge’ charge points in Malaysia. Furthermore, they will complement the established 175 kW high-performance chargers available at all Porsche Centres in Malaysia, as well as the growing ‘Porsche Destination Charging’ network at selected hotels, airports, sports clubs, and other lifestyle venues.
As electric mobility starts gaining momentum in Singapore and Malaysia, the network will enable smooth, convenient, and reliable electric road trips between the two countries. Once launched, the chargers will be available for all EVs that utilise the CCS Type 2 charging connector, which is widely used across both countries, with Porsche customers enjoying special rates at Shell Recharge.
Shell’s new 180kW high performance chargers are equipped to charge EV’s such as the Porsche Taycan from zero to 80% battery capacity in around 30 minutes, providing up to 390 kms of extra travel distance. The petroleum company is also offering additional benefits to Porsche customers such as reserving the HPC points in Malaysia in advance using their mobile app, and preferential prices for food and beverages at the Shell Select shops.
“Customers are at the heart of everything we do,” said Shairan Huzani Husain, Cluster Managing Director, Mobility Malaysia and Singapore, Shell. “We have been investing in building EV charging infrastructure to reduce range anxiety for our customers and this initiative is one of many examples of Shell providing solutions catered to our customers’ need for cleaner energy solutions. In 2019, we introduced EV charging in Singapore and in 2020, we introduced solar-powered retail stations in Malaysia. Now EV customers across the borders can experience Shell Recharge, and also recharge themselves with drinks and snacks at our Shell Select shops.”
The Porsche Centre at Sime Darby Motors City complex in Ara Damansara, Selangor which is part of the charging network.
The charging network complements the locations and retail formats for current and future Porsche enthusiasts in Malaysia, such as the newest Porsche Centre Ara Damansara as well as the upcoming Porsche Centre Johor Bahru, which are designed to foster brand experience and exclusivity.
The ASEAN markets hold strong potential for Porsche to unlock and we see an opportunity to shape electric mobility in the region. Our high-performance network across Singapore and Malaysia will serve as a lighthouse project for other countries to follow,” said Matthias Becker, Vice-President Region Overseas and Emerging Markets of Porsche AG.
Click here to know more about Taycan and other Porsche models and services in Malaysia.
With the Taycan – Porsche’s first production all-electric sportscar – successfully launched and progressively entering various markets, including Malaysia, the carmaker is now busy following up with final development work of the Taycan Cross Turismo. Prototypes have already covered more than 998,361 testing kilometres, a distance that equals almost 25 times around the planet (measured at the equator).
“When developing the Cross Turismo, we were of course able to build on our experience with the Taycan sports saloon. The biggest challenge was combining the requirements of sportiness with off-road capabilities,” explained Vice-President Model Line, Stefan Weckbach. “The Cross Turismo has to be capable of high performance on the racetrack and must also be able to handle mud and gravel.”
25 times around the planet
The latter conditions were simulated on the Endurance Testing Ground at the Development Centre in Germany. The conditions at this facility include a ‘Safari’ track that mimics terrain in Africa. Having completed a total of 998,361 testing kilometres, the Cross Turismo prototypes have circumnavigated the globe almost 25 times (measured at the equator).
The extensive Porsche testing programme has also taken place on racetracks such as the Nurburgring Nordschleife and the Grand Prix track in Hockenheim (both in Germany) as well as on testing grounds worldwide. The Cross Turismo has also been tested off the beaten track in the south of France and in the Pyrenees region.
‘Swiss army knife on wheels’
“The result is impressive. However, the Cross Turismo is not a hardcore off-road vehicle, but specialises in unpaved and dirt roads. It’s like a type of ‘Swiss army knife on up to 21-inch wheels’,” added Weckbach.
The new derivative, which features all the strengths of the Taycan sportscar, will have a chassis with all-wheel drive and height-adjustable air suspension. There is also significantly more headroom for the passengers in the rear and a large load capacity under the tailgate. The package and space conditions have been optimised down to the very last detail.
The mock-up – a faithful, physical representation of the interior – and the package function model alone took 650 design, electronic and coordination hours and 1,500 workshop hours to complete.
Same test programme as other sportscars
At Porsche, electric cars have to undergo the same rigorous testing programme as all its other sportscars with combustion engines. In addition to displaying superior performance, this always includes proving unrestricted everyday usability in all climatic conditions. Particularly demanding tasks such as charging the battery, or controlling the temperatures of the powertrain and interior under extreme temperatures, are additional aspects that are tested in the battery-powered electric models.
Other development goals typical for Porsche include racetrack performance, the ability to perform repeated acceleration runs at full throttle, and a range suitable for everyday use. Extensive testing is also carried out in the laboratory and on test rigs, and includes development and validation of the aerodynamic design. The Cross Turismo braved the storm in the wind tunnel for around 325 hours, part of the 1,500 hours spent there during its development process.
The new rear bicycle carrier designed by Porsche for this model also underwent its own rigorous testing programme with rough road tracks and driving dynamics tests. It sets new benchmarks when to comes to handling, ergonomics, driving safety and stability. Several e-bikes can be transported on its generously spaced wide rails.
The Taycan Cross Turismo combines Porsche E-Performance with enhanced suitability for everyday use. It will go on sale in Europe in mid-2021. To date, more than 20,000 Taycans have been delivered worldwide.
The Taycan was launched in Malaysia last September by Sime Darby Auto Performance.
Porsche goes racing to bring back technology that transfers into production models and with the new 911 GT3, this is very clearly evident. The seventh edition of the sportscar, developed in close collaboration with Porsche Motorsport, transfers pure racing technology into the model that customers can buy.
Example: the double wishbone front axle layout and sophisticated aerodynamics with swan neck rear wing and striking diffuser originate from the successful 911 RSR GT racing car 911 RSR. Likewise, the 510 ps 4-litre 6-cylinder boxer engine is based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R, tried and tested in endurance racing.
Faster than before
The distinctive strength of the 911 GT3 lies in the sum of its characteristics. With a top speed of 320 km/h (318 km/h with PDK), it is even faster than the previous 911 GT3 RS. With a 6-speed manual transmission, it has a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds.
Sophisticated aerodynamics
The sophisticated aerodynamics benefit from the experiences gained from racing and generate significantly more downforce without noticeably affecting the drag coefficient. In the performance position, the manually set wing and diffuser elements significantly increase the aerodynamic pressure for high cornering speeds. This is, however, reserved strictly for circuit use.
Despite a wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is on a par with its predecessor. With a manual gearbox, it weighs 1,418 kgs (slightly heavier with the PDK). The weight-savings come from a front bonnet made of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, optimised brake discs and forged light-alloy wheels, along with the cover for the rear seat compartment. The lightweight sports exhaust system also reduces the weight by no less than 10 kgs.
Race-oriented instrumentation
The cockpit is in line with the current model generation. A new feature is the track screen; at the touch of a button, it reduces the digital displays to the left and right of the central tachometer, which reaches up to 10,000 rpm, to information such as tyre pressure indicator, oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel tank level and water temperature – essential when driving on the circuit. It also includes a visual shift assistant with coloured bars to the left and right of the tachometer and a shift light derived from Porsche Motorsport.
Customers who desire more customised equipment can refer to Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur’s range which includes the new 911 GT3. It is supplemented by GT 3-specific options such as a lightweight roof made of exposed carbonfibre.
As exclusive as the 911 GT3 itself is the individual chronograph that Porsche Design offers exclusively to those who buy the sportscar. Like its motorised role model, it boasts a dynamic design, consistent performance and high-quality workmanship. Its housing reflects its Motorsport genes. Just like the connecting rods of the GT3 engine, it consists of robust, lightweight titanium. The coloured ring of the dial can be customised in the paint colours of the 911 GT3.
Bookings by Malaysian customers for the new 911 GT3 are now accepted by Sime Darby Auto Performance. For more details, click here.
During this period of the pandemic, we are urged to ‘Stay indoors’ to avoid being infected and also to help cut the transmission of the virus. For many people, ‘indoors’ may mean a boring time but not for racer Leh Keen: while being ‘indoors’, he achieved a Guinness World Records title for the fastest speed by a vehicle indoors.
It’s not a new category in the world famous list of records and the last person set it at a speed of 138.5 km/h. That was 7 years ago. The rules – strictly enforced by Guinness World Records – are tough. The record tun must be done up to a standstill within the space of the building. There can be no run up, no safety net and no doors open and therefore no escape route. It means not just being able to accelerate to a very high speed but also being able to come to a stop in time.
Leh therefore required a car that would be able to perform with such challenging conditions. It had to be one that he could trust his life with in order to safely break the record safely. With an output equivalent to 750 bhp, 4-wheel drive providing maximized grip, powerful carbon ceramic brakes and the ability to accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) from standstill in just 2.6 seconds, the all-electric Taycan Turbo S by Porsche was the car to use.
Selecting the right building was just as challenging. In the end, it was the Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. At around 93,000 square metres, the convention centre boasts having the largest contiguous exhibit hall in the country, ideal for the distance it provided. However, like many other indoor facilities, the polished concrete surface replicated ice when being driven over at speed…
“I didn’t really appreciate the scale of the record attempt until my first exploratory run. The surface is so unpredictable, so slick, that you have to have complete trust in your car. It truly was like ice – and you’re accelerating flat out, facing a really hard wall at the end. Suddenly, even in a massive space like the one we had, it seemed very small,” said Leh Keen after his record attempt. “I could feel the Taycan’s systems figuring it out, working so hard to keep me heading straight – it was such an impressive feat. To accelerate so hard on such an erratic surface was incredible. Not for a moment did I doubt I could do it.”
Leh’s strategy was to build up slowly, with low-speed exploratory runs. The standard street tyres were pre-heated as a precaution. And, when it came to the record attempt, one run was all it took. “I did take a moment on the starting line – knowing I was going to have to go as fast as I could – and stop again – all before reaching the wall I was facing. It got my attention.”
“I used the car’s launch control and the Taycan just hooked up – the sensation of speed indoors, even in such a big space, is enormous – that wall rushed up fast. I was gentle on the brakes at the end… the Taycan’s brakes were more than up to the job. Of course, I didn’t look down at my speed, so it came as a surprise and a relief that I’d beaten the record, and by such a margin. It was a rush! I’m thankful for Porsche for trusting my abilities and for their preparations and encouragement – 165 km/h (officially 102.6 mph) inside a building. What was I thinking?”
The Taycan is available in Malaysia from Sime Darby Auto Performance. Click here to find out more.
Porsche to assemble in Malaysia? That’s the current topic among enthusiasts following a report in The Edge Weekly. The business website mentions that its source has said the investment has been approved by Malaysian authorities and that the assembly will be done at the Inokom factory in Kedah.
It would be quite an unusual development for the German sportscar maker as it has never built its cars outside Germany. It has two factories – the original one at Zuffenhausen and the 19-year old one in Leipzig. In its 2019 financial year, total production from the two factories was almost 275,000 vehicles.
Porsche has come a long way from the time it began making sportscars in the 1950s. Today, it has two factories supplying to the whole world – the original one from the 1950s in Zuffenhausen (below) and a second one in Leipzig (bottom), both in Germany.Porsche builds its vehicles for the whole world at just two facrories – the original one from rhe 1950s in Zuffenhausen and a second one in Leipzig (below), both in Germany.
Porsche being a strong brand, demand for its products has always been good although the coronavirus pandemic which impacted the auto industry did result in a 12% decline in deliveries last year. In the first half of 2020, Porsche sold 55,550 vehicles to customers in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East regions, with China’s intake of 39,603 units making it the biggest single market worldwide for the carmaker.
So is it time for Porsche to establish a production hub in the Asia-Pacific region? Bear in mind that the 100,000+ volume is made up of 5 model lines with the specialized all-electric Taycan being the sixth. Obviously, assembling outside Germany would not involve all the models so it would be one or two, with the Cayenne being the most popular so it could be a good candidate.
Manufacturers invest in overseas production facilities in places where they can get good incentives by government to do so. They obviously require a good infrastructure as well. At one time, the potential domestic market volume was important since they would assemble in another country and primarily want to sell there, with exports being secondary. However, with the formation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) as a single trading bloc and duty-free exchange of goods, it is no longer just one country to look at but the potential of regional volume, which can be quite big.
Local assembly of vehicles in Malaysia began in 1967.
Up till the 1980s, Malaysia was an excellent place for any carmaker to have a production base. It had a good infrastructure, a well educated workforce which was also familiar with the English language, a stable government and a growing economy. It had begun local assembly activities in 1967 so a broad range of locally-made components was available. Manufacturers who chose to assemble locally had their vehicles taxed at lower rates so they could be priced attractively.
However, things changed after the mid-1980s when Malaysia decided to have its own National Car, with the government being an investor in the project. Naturally, it had protection so it could compete against established brands and with the protection, the playing field was no longer level like before. The market came to be dominated by one brand while others had to fight in a far smaller slice of the market.
In the interests of ‘free trade’ and also as a member of the World Trade Organisation, the government never stopped anyone else from selling in Malaysia. They were welcome to import their vehicles in CBU (completely built-up) form and pay much higher taxes, or assemble them locally and have lower taxes but still more than what Proton had to pay.
While having a national car, the government nevertheless wanted to also make Malaysia a production hub in ASEAN. However, it basically wanted carmakers to build their factories in Malaysia but export almost all the production; the domestic market was to be left alone. While this may be fine in theory, as mentioned earlier, manufacturers prefer to look at the domestic market first. If they are to export to another country, why can’t they do it from their own factories in Japan or Europe? The shipping costs would be the same anyway and they would probably have lower production costs as well as the vehicles would be made in high-volume factories with better economies of scale.
The AFTA agreement helped but Malaysia has so far not benefitted much. When the manufacturers first learnt of the single market being formed, and the ability to export around the region without import tax, they were attracted. The market size estimated when AFTA was signed in the early 1990s was about 550 million consumers, with many steadily moving upward economically, and a potential GDP of US$750 billion.
So they looked at making investments and besides incentives, they also looked at domestic market potential. Malaysia was seen as ‘protected’ so it was not seriously considered, not that the government really cared since Proton was selling everything it could make anyway. So Thailand, where the playing field was seen as level, got big chunks of investment as Ford and GM built brand new factories to make their products for the region. Indonesia too saw investments with the aim of expanding existing factories to produce more and export.
Ford did consider Malaysia and had a plan to make the Escape SUV in Malaysia for the region. The plans were confirmed but then Malaysia decided that it did not want to open up as planned under the AFTA agreement because it said that its auto industry had been battered by the Asian financial crisis. It needed some extra years to recover, so the market had to stay closed. A frustrated Ford, realizing that it would not be practical to use Malaysia, tore up its plans and put its money into the Philippines where it had a factory.
Only Volvo seems to have chosen Malaysia as a hub of sorts but that is more a historical thing. Its factory here was the first to open when Malaysia began calling for local assembly and although it had production in Thailand, that was closed down and everything concentrated in this country for the region from 2012.
For the other carmakers, Malaysia was still and attractive market because it was the largest passenger car market in ASEAN. Thailand was a pick-up truck market and in Indonesia, the biggest demand was for MPVs. So in spite of the difficult environment, many carmakers continued to operate in Malaysia, make the necessary investments periodically to upgrade their plants and kept refreshing their model lines.
Porsche has been officially in Malaysia for a long time, with Sime Darby Auto Performance representing the brand since 2010.
But the much desired objective of the government – to be a regional production hub – remained elusive. There have been a few National Auto Policies (NAP), each one stating that aim, and offering various types of incentives without much detail. The general way that the Malaysian government’s Ministry of International Trade & Industry has liked to operate is with ‘customised’ incentives, perhaps believing that the approach would be more appreciated by investors.
However, many in the industry have expressed a dislike for the approach, preferring the details to be open for all to know and work with. Transparency is important for these businessmen, and as one veteran industry executive said, “How can I know that my competitor might have received a better incentive but actually invested less?”. So the has remained an indifference and even with the latest NAP announced a year ago, the lack of transparency and detail continued. Many people were disappointed that only an outline was provided and could not even begin to start working out plans to propose to their head office. Anyway, since then, the government has changed so it could be that the NAP will see a revised form, depending on the MITI minister.
For many years. Daihatsu has been taking the Myvi made in Malaysia and selling it as a Daihatsu Sirion in Indonesia. Mazda has also been exporting the CX-5 assembled in Malaysia (below) to Thailand.
Over the past decade, some companies have tried to export from Malaysia with limited success. Perhaps only Volvo and Mazda (with the CX-5) have been doing well with exports but Toyota started and stopped exporting its Malaysian-made Hiace to Thailand. Proton and Perodua export, of course, and of note is the fact that the Myvi made in Malaysia is taken by Daihatsu for sale in Indonesia as a Sirion under its own brand. That says a lot about Perodua’s quality as a Japanese carmaker would not simply use a product made by someone else.
Porsche and Sime Darby
The report by The Edge Weekly mentions that Porsche will use the Inokom plant in Kedah, which is not surprising. The plant, opened in the late 1990s, is owned by Sime Darby and a unit of the company is also the importer and distributor of the German sportscars. It would make things a lot easier for the same parties to also work together on an assembly project.
If Porsche is indeed going to do it, then it will not just be an assembly program to set up. The carmaker has not done completely knocked-down (CKD) activities before so it will have to set up a new department just for it. Perhaps, being in the Volkswagen Group, it will be able to get assistance from its colleagues in Wolfsburg as there is local assembly of some Volkswagen models being done in Pahang.
The Inokom factory in Kedah which assembles vehicles from the BMW, Hyundai, MINI and Mazda brands.
It is not just a matter of picking a model and putting it into a box in disassembled form for assembly in another country. The model has also to be engineered for local assembly, taking into account the level of automation and capabilities of the workforce. This is often the case with picking models for overseas assembly. Volvo had to first invest in laser welding equipment before it could consider assembling the XC60 in Malaysia.
The two Porsche factories in Germany are very advanced with manufacturing processes that ensure high quality. It is unlikely that all the manufacturing processes at Inokom will be identically advanced, so some modification may be needed, and that means an engineering program to develop a ‘Malaysian CKD model’.
It is possible that the ‘SKD’ (semi knocked down) approach will be taken although this approach was stopped by the government in mid-2019. With SKD, bodyshells can be imported already welded together. While the government no longer allows SKD, one never knows with a ‘customized incentive’ and also, the government of today is not the same one that formulated the 2020 NAP.
The Cayenne SUV would be a good candidate for assembly as it is popular throughout the region.
Righthand drive or lefthand drive? This is also another issue, especially if the volume is not going to be very big. What some carmakers have considered – Geely and Great Wall Motors being among them – is that a production hub in ASEAN could be dedicated to righthand drive (RHD) versions which they do not make in their own country. This is more applicable to the Chinese carmakers though as the other global players have long coped with making cars with the steering wheel on either side. So Malaysia could be designated to make RHD models for most of the ASEAN markets and when volumes get higher, then they can also consider LHD.
As for quality, there is nothing inferior about Malaysian assembled vehicles today. The manufacturers have many processes that ensure the quality standards are very high, even if they might not be exactly similar to those of factories in Japan or Germany.
The only thing is consumer perception even though one can say that in this era of globalization, people don’t really care as long as the quality is not poorer. Many years ago, when Proton was assembling the Lotus Elise and tried to export it to Japan, the customers there indicated that if they wanted to buy a Lotus, it had to be made in England. Likewise, when Mazda and Toyota wanted to source some of its models from Thailand for its ASEAN markets, customers in Singapore did not want them and wanted to have cars from the Japanese factories.
Finally, the price – which is often the first thing Malaysians think of when they hear that a model will be assembled locally. For a long time, they have been conditioned to expect that a model that is assembled in Malaysia will be cheaper and that is because there is a lower tax rate and in more recent times, the government also rewards those who make investments with subsidies that can offset production costs to allow lower retail prices. So yes, a locally-assembled Porsche could be cheaper though probably not by a huge amount.
To know more about promotions at BHPetrol stations, visit www.bhpetrol.com.my.
Porsche is steadily expanding its all-electric Taycan range with a fourth variant that has rear-wheel drive. It is called just Taycan, no suffix, which reflects it entry-level position in the range which has the Taycan Turbo S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan 4S. Sime Darby Auto Performance will have the model in Malaysian showrooms from March this year and is pricing it from RM584,561 with sales tax until June 30, 2021.
As the youngest member of the family, the Taycan comes with the new features introduced in the other versions at the model year changeover. As on the other variants, optional equipment includes a colour head-up display and an on-board charger with a charging capacity of up to 22 kW.
Two battery pack choices
Two battery pack sizes are available: the standard Performance Battery and the optional Performance Battery Plus. The new entry-level model delivers up to 300 kW (408 ps) in ‘overboost’ mode with Launch Control; this increases to an output of up to 350 kW (476 ps) with the optional battery pack. Nominal power is 240 kW (326 ps) or 280 kW (380 ps), respectively. The range with the standard battery pack is claimed to be up to 431 kms, while the more powerful pack will extend it to 484 kms.
Maximum charging capacity is up to 225 kW (Performance Battery) or up to 270 kW (Performance Battery Plus). This means that both batteries can be charged from 5% to 80% in 22.5 minutes and that power for a further 100 kilometres is achieved after only 5 minutes. Just as with the other variants, the Taycan has intelligent charging management.
The Taycan can accelerate from a standing start to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, it is claimed, and having the more powerful battery pack makes no difference to acceleration time nor top speed which is said to be 230 km/h.
In addition to the electric motor on the rear axle, the drive architecture also includes a 2-speed transmission. With a Cd value from 0.22, its aerodynamics make a significant contribution to its low energy consumption, contributing to long range.
Incidentally, this new rear-wheel drive Taycan also holds the Guinness World Record for the longest driftwith an electric car, having been driven sideways non-stop for exactly 42.171 kms. You can read about it here.
A Taycan drifting its way to a Guinness World record in 2020.
Purist exterior design, Porsche DNA
With its purist design, the Taycan signals the beginning of a new era. At the same time, it retains the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. From the front, the electric sportscar looks particularly low and wide, with highly contoured wings. Its silhouette is shaped by its sporty roof line sloping downward to the rear, while its highly sculpted side sections are also characteristic. These features are complemented by innovative elements such as the glass-look lettering for the Porsche logo in the rear light bar.
Distinguishing features of the Taycan within its model family include aerodynamically optimised 19-inch Taycan Aero wheels and black anodised brake callipers. The front apron, side sills and rear diffuser in black are the same as those on the Taycan 4S. LED headlights are fitted as standard.
Unique interior design
The cockpit of the Taycan unique with its clear structure and completely new architecture. The free-standing curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. This places a clear focus on the driver axis. Other elements include a central 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional display for the front passenger.
The Taycan is the first Porsche model available with an entirely leather-free interior. Interiors made from innovative recycled materials underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sports car.
As standard, the Taycan comes with a partial leather interior as well as front comfort seats with 8-way electrical adjustment. There are two luggage compartments – 84 litres at the front, and up to 407 litres at the rear.
Adaptive air suspension
The adaptive air suspension is equipped with a Smartlift function which allows the car to be programmed so that it raises its ride height automatically at certain recurring locations such as road humps or garage driveways. The Smartlift function can also actively influence the height on motorway journeys and can adjust this height for the best possible balance between efficiency and driving comfort.
6-piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes at the front and 4-piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes at the rear are standard. The brake callipers have a black anodised finish. Customers can also choose an optional high-performance Porsche Surface Coated Brake.
Over 20,000 sold worldwide
Porsche has delivered just over 20,000 Taycans to customers worldwide in 2020. In Norway, the Taycan currently accounts for 70% of all Porsche models sold, and start of November saw the 1,000th unit being delivered in that market.
Just like the performance of cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) kept rising as the technology evolved and advanced (and continues to do so), the same has been happening with electric cars. Considered only suitable as golf course buggies initially, today’s electric cars can match ICE cars in many aspects of performance though the most powerful are still at the expensive upper end due to the more advanced technologies which are more costly.
The Taycan – Porsche’s all-electric sportscar – is one example and those who have driven it have been amazed by its performance. Now that is further demonstrated by a Guinness World Record for the longest drift with an electric vehicle.
55 minutes of drifting
The record was set at the Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) in Hockenheimring, Germany. Porsche instructor Dennis Retera did 210 laps on the 200 metre-long drift circle without the front wheels ever pointing in the same direction as the curve. In 55 minutes, the sideways expert covered a total of 42.171 kms.
By completing this marathon distance, Retera secured the world record for the longest continuous drift in an electric car. The average speed was 46 km/h. The record was achieved with the rear-wheel drive version of the Taycan (on sale in China).
The attempt took place under the supervision of Guinness World Records official record judge Joanne Brent on the irrigated driving dynamics area of the PEC. “We’ve had some drift records but with an electric sportscar, it’s something very special for us too. Here Porsche has done real pioneering work,” said Brent, who has been supervising record attempts of all kinds for Guinness World Records for over 5 years.
Record meticulously documented
The Guinness representative meticulously documented the record with a whole range of technical aids and other independent experts. This included a local land surveyor who measured the 80-metre diameter area of the drift pad with millimetre precision. GPS and yaw rate sensors within the vehicle were used for documentation purposes, as was a camera installed on the roof of the track’s control tower, with which the record ride was filmed.
Another independent expert was Denise Ritzmann. Prior to the record attempt, the engineer confirmed the standard and roadworthy condition of the Taycan on behalf of testing organisation DEKRA. Ritzmann knows all about drifting – she was European drifting champion in 2018 and 2019 and was also responsible for ensuring the Taycan remained in a permanent drift throughout the record attempt.”
“You can see at a glance whether the front wheels are pointing in a different direction to the curve. As long as this is the case, the car is drifting,” she explained. Together with Brent, she also counted the laps completed during the record attempt.
“When the driving stability programmes are switched off, a powerslide with the electric Porsche is extremely easy, especially of course with this model variant, which is driven exclusively via the rear wheels,” said Retera, the man behind the wheel of the Taycan. “Sufficient power is always available. The low centre of gravity and the long wheelbase ensure stability. The precise design of the chassis and steering allows for perfect control at all times, even when moving sideways”.
“Nevertheless, it was also very tiring for me to keep my concentration high for 210 laps, especially as the irrigated asphalt of the drift circuit does not provide the same grip everywhere,” he admitted. “I concentrated on controlling the drift with the steering – this is more efficient than using the accelerator pedal and reduces the risk of spinning.”
The new record set by the Taycan joins over 53,000 Guinness World Records. Every year, about 8,000 new records are added from around the world.
Already setting other records
The Taycan has already set other records as well. One of them is a gruelling 24-hour endurance run over 3,425 kms on the high-speed track in Nardo, Italy; the best time in its class on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife, and 26 sprints from a standing start to 200 km/h at an airfield.
Concept cars, studies and prototypes always excite the public as they are often futuristic and contain advanced technologies that may one day be available. However, many such vehicles are kept behind closed doors, and sometimes even when they are no longer of use, they are not revealed.
Over the decades, Porsche has obviously developed many prototypes to study new concepts for its future sportscars. These have typically been secret although some have been shown to the public. Now, for the first time, the carmaker is showing some of its secret design studies from 2005 to 2019. Besides revealing these models, Porsche also provides an insight into the design process – from the first drawing to the finished production model, if it got that far.
“The timeless and innovative design of our sportscars inspires people all over the world,” said Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche AG. “Visionary concept studies form the basis for this success: they are the pool of ideas for the Porsche design of tomorrow and combine our strong tradition with pioneering future technologies.”
Porsche Vision Spyder (2019): With its spartan, puristic cockpit, the characteristic radiator grilles over the mid-mounted engine, red graphic elements and the suggested fins at the rear, the compact Vision Spyder clearly calls to mind the 550-1500 RS Spyder from 1954. At the same time, the study was intended to further develop the design identity of Porsche and provide a pool of ideas for future details, eg, the ultra modern roll-bar.
The design process
The design process begins with a sketch, followed by a 3D model. As soon as an idea is to be further developed, small models on a scale of 1: 3 and finally solid models on a scale of 1: 1 follow.
“The virtual world is the first step, but it is precisely the unexpected models that you have to experience in reality in order to understand how small, big or surprisingly proportioned a car is,” explained Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche.
In contrast to the development of a production model, in which several models with different styling themes are developed, some projects only have one vision model initially created as the protagonist of the central idea.
“Porsche intentionally has just a single design studio – located in the direct proximity of development,” said Mauer. “Weissach is our epicentre. Instead of opening advanced design studios in the distant metropolises of North America and Asia, our designers come from all over the world to Porsche in Weissach in order to create the latest production sportscars and automotive visions at the heart of the brand.
“More than 120 designers, experts for interior, exterior, colours and materials, model builders, modellers and study engineers work in the Porsche Design Studio,” he revealed.
Porsche 919 Street (2017) : The 919 Street was developed on the basis of the technology used in the 919 Hybrid, promising to make the exhilarating driving experience of the LMP1 racing car available to amateur drivers. Under the outer shell are the carbonfibre monocoque and powerful 900-ps hybrid racing drivetrain that helped Porsche win numerous victories at Le Mans. The dimensions and wheelbase were also the same as on the racing car.
The design studies
“When it comes to the visions we develop, it is not about bringing every car onto the road. Instead, it is more a question of establishing creative space and a relationship with the future,” said Mauer when describing the design process. “There are two possibilities for continuing to develop as a brand: either you improve your products from the present, that is to say step-by-step. However, it is difficult to be really innovative in this process. Or you give free rein to your creativity. The idea is to let your thoughts jump to the day after tomorrow, and to then move back from there to tomorrow.”
Based on this idea, Porsche develops the product and brand identity which characterises and secures the appearance of all models in the long term. The design language for future models develops from the long-term vision.
In this process, the higher-level goal is to combine the Porsche design DNA with state-of-the-art vehicle engineering. On the one hand, this secures the innovative capability of future Porsche models and, on the other, also provides an evolutionary reference to the rich history of Porsche.
Porsche Vision ‘Renndienst’ (2018): The Porsche vision ‘Renndienst’ is the free interpretation of a family-friendly space concept for up to 6 persons. The design team designed a futuristic ‘space shuttle’ with exciting proportions. The study shows how the Porsche design DNA with its characteristic surface modelling can be transferred to an unknown vehicle segment for the brand.
Visit Porsche Malaysia to know more about the models available that you can buy
Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) has enhanced its Porsche Cayenne offering with a new Premium Package which provides additional options as standard. These include options that enhance performance and also comfort and motoring enjoyment.
On the technical side is air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management for dynamic handling and driving comfort as well as 21-inch RS Spyder wheels. The driver will also be able to get the car into a parking bay more easily with ParkAssist with Surround View.
The powertrain available for the Malaysian market is the 3-litre turbocharged V6 engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger. The 340 ps/450 Nm output is delivered to the wheels through an 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission.
Inside, the enhancements now include 4-zone climate control and a BOSE Surround Sound System. The high-powered 710W audio system comes with 14 speakers, including a separate subwoofer, and uses BOSE SoundTrue Enhancement Technology to enhance the quality of sound reproduction.
“There’s nothing quite like a ride in a sportscar, be it for the driver or the passenger, and it’s our goal to share ‘that sportscar feeling’ with more Porsche enthusiasts in Malaysia. The introduction of the new Cayenne Premium Package has enabled us to do that, and we stay committed to finding new ways of bringing fans closer to realising their dreams of owning a Porsche,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.
The Cayenne comes with a 4-year unlimited mileage warranty as well as 4 years of free scheduled service and maintenance. SDAP is now accepting orders for the model which has a base price of RM680,000. Deliveries will begin in 2021.
For the first time, Porsche Asia Pacific and Porsche Cars Australia have teamed up with Forza Motorsport 7 to run a simulation racing tournament. Known as the Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup, it will see some of the best sim racers in the region compete on the Forza Motorsport 7 tracks of Bathurst, Nurburgring, Le Mans, Silverstone and Hockenheimring.
Qualifiers
The races will begin in a Porsche 918 Spyder which holds the distinction of being the first series production car to beat the lap record of 7 minutes at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 2013. The race will take place on the rollercoaster Bathurst track which offers an extraordinary mix of 23 fast and slow corners, and gradients of up to 16%.
Subsequent qualifying rounds, to be held in October, will use the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife, in the 911 GT3 RS, and then Le Mans with the 919 Hybrid. Finally, the top 16 players, limited to a maximum of three from one country, will compete to bring home the first Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup over two races in a Cayman GT4 Clubsport.
The Finals
The first of the final races will be at the Silverstone track after which the finalists will then go head to head for their second finals race at the Hockenheimring. All 16 finalists and the top 3 participants of the finals will win prizes from the Porsche Driver’s Selection and HUGO BOSS, the official sponsor of the Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup.
The titleholder will win an opportunity to race on a real track during a track experience at the Porsche Experience Centre in Hockenheimring, Germany, in 2021.
The tournament is currently open for registrations online from players from the Asia Pacific region. They must hold a Xbox game pass and have either access to a PC, Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X. Click here to sign up, or find out more about the race details and points scoring system.
Porsche in Esports
Porsche’s involvement in Esports or sim racing – also referred to as digital motorsports by the FIA – goes back some 3 years and has been growing in recent times, especially this year when real-world racing was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Racing games and Esports connect the real and virtual worlds and enable us to gain further access to the young target group. It means that they can develop a passion for Porsche even before buying their first sportscar”, said a senior executive of the company.
One of its major sim racing events – the Porsche Esports Supercup – was included in a gala event to honour the successes of the teams and driers in motorsport. Porsche was the first major carmaker to recognise the achievements of virtual racers at the same event as their real-world racing peers.
