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It was only in September that Porsche’s first all-electric sportscar had its global debut – on 3 continents simultaneously – and now, the company is presenting the third version – the Taycan 4S.

Puristic exterior design
The clear, puristic design of the Taycan signals the beginning of a new era. At the same time, it retains the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. The sleek cabin, the drawn-in rear C-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings result in a sharply emphasized rear, typical of the brand. There are also innovative elements such as the glass-effect Porsche logo, which has been integrated into the light bar at the rear.

Distinguishing features of the Taycan 4S compared with the Turbo and Turbo S include the aerodynamically optimized 19-inch Taycan S Aero wheels and the red-painted brake calipers. The front apron with new geometry, side sills and rear diffuser in black also give further visual differentiation. LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) are standard.

Porsche Taycan 4S

This version is available with two battery sizes; with the Performance Battery, up to 390 kW/530 ps and with the Performance Battery Plus, up to 420 kW/571 PS. Following the Taycan Turbo S and the Taycan Turbo, the Taycan 4S is therefore the new entry-level model in the series.

A single-deck Performance Battery with a total capacity of 79.2 kWh comes as standard. The two-deck Performance Battery Plus familiar from the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo is optionally available. The total capacity here is 93.4 kWh.

For both variants, the claimed 0 to 100 km/h time is 4.0 seconds. The top speed is 250 km/h in both cases but the claimed range is up to 407 kms with the Performance Battery and up to 463 kms with the Performance Battery Plus – the highest of the current Taycan range.

Dynamic performance
The permanently excited synchronous machine on the rear axle has an active length of 130 mm and is therefore exactly 80 mm shorter than the corresponding drive component on the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo. The pulse-controlled inverter used on the front axle in the Taycan 4S operates with up to 300 amps, and the inverter on the rear axle with up to 600 amps.

Porsche Taycan 4S

With two permanently excited synchronous machines on the front and rear axles – in other words, all-wheel drive – as well as a 2-speed transmission on the rear axle, the drive architecture comprises the same main technical highlights as the other versions.

The same also applies to the intelligent charging management and exemplary aerodynamics. With a Cd of 0.22, the aerodynamics makes a significant contribution to low energy consumption and thus long range.

Porsche Taycan 4S

Unique interior design
The cockpit also signals the start of a new era 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. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look.

2019 Porsche Taycan 4S

As standard, the Taycan 4S comes with a partial leather interior as well as front comfort seats with 8-way electrical adjustment. However, with the Taycan, Porsche also offers an entirely leather-free interior for the first time, for customers who have such a demand. Interiors made from innovative recycled materials underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sportscar.

Porsche uses a centrally networked control system for the Taycan chassis. The integrated Porsche 4D Chassis Control analyses and synchronises all chassis systems in real time. As standard, the Taycan 4S features adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology including electronic damper control PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management).

Porsche Taycan 4S

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Lotus has introduced a new variant to its featherweight Elise family. Named Sprint edition, the new car adopts new clever weight saving measures that are reminiscent of the good old days when Colin Chapman was running the shop.’

Engineered in and out to be the lightest of the Elise family, the Sprint edition receives new distinctive styling to the exterior and interior of the car. It gets new front and rear aesthetics which are in line with the company’s design language including the lightweight open-gate gear selector mechanism seen on the Exige Sport 350. Other visual changes include bodywork keyed colour inserts for the sports seats, transmission console and HVAC surround, along with Sprint badge stitching. In addition to that, the car also receives an array of optional Alcantara trim panels on the doors, sills, seats and vents surrounds with contrasting stitching.

Improvements to the body include redesigned lightweight front clam panel, wider radiator apertures and mesh pattern grille, rear transom panel with two rear light clusters with reversing and fog lights mounted inboard. Aerodynamics have been tweaked too, with the addition of rubber elements on the flat underside ahead of the front wheel and an additional diffuser vane at the rear to improve air flow.

Lotus boasts that through various weight saving measures, it was able to bring down the overall weight to a mere 798 kg (dry). This was done by utilising lightweight components which include a Lithium-Ion battery (Saves 9kg), carbon race seats (saves 6kg), new lightweight forged alloy wheels (saves 6kg) as well as a carbon access panel, roll hoop cover, engine cover and polycarbonate rear screen that saves 6kg.

Comparatively, the Sprint edition is about 26kg lighter than the previous Sport and Sport 220 models even when fitted with optional two-piece brake discs (4kg lighter). Buyers can either opt for a 1.6-litre engine (134bhp and 160Nm of torque) or a supercharged 1.8-litre (217bhp and 250Nm of torque) one. As such, 0-100km/h for the Elise Sprint is 5.9 seconds and 4.1 seconds for the Elise Sprint 220. Lotus’s acoustic engineers have made some improvements to make the engine note more appealing to the 6 year old in all of us.

Stopping power comes courtesy of AP racing twin-piston calipers and Brembo single-piston rear calipers, however, a lightweight two-piece brake disc setup is also available as an option. Lotus does offer a number of ESP driving modes which are Drive, Sport and Off. The new Elise range which includes the Sprint, retain the same suspension configuration with fully independent double wishbone setup and a front anti-roll bar as well as Bilstein high-performance gas dampers and Eibach Coaxial coil springs for the front and rear.

Despite the lightweight measures, Lotus has still given the Sprint edition a new in-car entertainment system that offers Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, but like most Lotus buyers, the engine note is all the music we need.

The Sprint Edition sits above the the rest of the Elise line up but slots under the Elise Sport 220. Lotus plan on delivering cars to respective customers in April of this year and we hope it lives up to all the weight saving measures Lotus says it has.the hypeLotus says it deserves.

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