Porsche Debuts New EVs, High-Performance ICE Models in LA

LOS ANGELES – Porsche chooses the 2021 LA Auto Show to debut a duo of new Taycans and Caymans.

The German sports car icon adds to its EV stable with the Taycan GTS sedan and GTS Sport Turismo trims that include styling and performance enhancements, exclusive suspension tuning and Electric Sport Sound for the brand’s first-ever electric GTS.

The Taycan GTS sedan and GTS Sport Turismo feature the same permanent-magnet front and rear motors that produce 590 hp with Launch Control engaged, which positions the new variants between the Taycan 4S at 462 hp and Taycan Turbo with 670 hp. Both come with a 2-speed rear transmission and go from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.

As with the Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S, the GTS models come standard with the 93.4-kWh Performance Battery Plus. The vehicles’ 800V architecture enables charging at up to 270 kW to juice the battery from 5% to 80% in under 23 minutes.

Trim It Black

To stand out from its siblings, the GTS gets a SportDesign front fascia and side skirts and black accents aplenty inside and out. The side windows and rear diffuser are trimmed in high-gloss black and rear badging is matte black, while the standard 20-in. Taycan Turbo S Aero Design wheels have a special satin black finish.

The rear light strip features the Porsche logo in black, the Matrix PDLS Plus headlights are tinted black and the bottom caps of the body-color side mirror are painted black. Even the door-sill guards and interior trim feature brushed black aluminum.

Like other GTS models, the Taycan GTS features a Race-Tex interior package with GTS logos on the front and rear headrests. The Taycan GTS Sport Turismo’s rear spoiler is paint matched to the body color, and cladding over the wheel arches is removed.

Pricing for the Taycan GTS sedan starts at $131,400, while Taycan GTS Sport Turismo will start at $133,300. Both Taycan GTS models are now available for order, and U.S. deliveries will start in the first half of 2022. EPA range will be announced closer to delivery.

Two Track Stars

Porsche also unveils a new 718 Cayman GT4 RS (pictured, below left) that shares a naturally aspirated engine with the high-performance 911 GT3 Cup and 911 GT3 track stars. The 4.0L 6-cyl. boxer revs up to 9,000 rpm and receives a 79-hp bump compared to the 718 Cayman GT4, for a total of 493 hp. Maximum torque also increases from 317 lb.-ft. (429 Nm) to 331 lb.-ft. (448 Nm).

Like other RS variants, the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS is exclusively available with a 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission with shorter gearing than 718 Cayman GT4. Drivers can manually flick through gears using steering-wheel paddles or a newly designed center-console shifter.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport

The RS variant rockets from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds – half a second quicker than the 414-hp 718 Cayman GT4 – and hits a top track speed of 196 mph (316 km/h). The 718 Cayman GT4 RS has an MSRP of $141,700, and Porsche expects it to reach U.S. dealers next summer.

The new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport (pictured, above right) is a mid-engine, track-ready race car based on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. It uses the same engine to produce 500 hp – 75 hp more than the previous GT4 Clubsport model – and cranks out 343 lb.-ft. (465 Nm) of torque at 6,000 rpm.  

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport comes equipped with a welded-in roll cage, Recaro racing seat with a six-point harness and built-in air jack system with three jacks.

The fully homologated 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is ready for Porsche-specific SRO racing without modification. It will be sold in the U.S through Porsche Motorsport North America with a sticker price of $229,000.