Porsche Taycan Promises Charging Times Twice As Fast As Tesla

Ground won't be the only thing that Porsche's EV will cover quickly.

Porsche is no stranger to speed, producing as it has (and still does) some of the fastest cars ever to hit the road or track. And now it's after another crown in the realm of speed, but this time it's not for the pace with which its cars cover ground. This time it's for charging times.

Speaking with Fortune at the Rennsport Reunion last weekend, Porsche's US chief Klaus Zellmer said its forthcoming Taycan electric sports car will be able to quick-charge to 80 percent of its battery's capacity in just 15 minutes.

That's “almost the same time if you fill up your gas tank and have a cup of coffee,” said Zellmer. More to the point, though – and in true Porsche style – it's much faster than the competition. As Fortune points out, Teslas take nearly half an hour to achieve the same charge. And Jaguar's new I-Pace takes 45 minutes.

“It doesn’t make any sense to drive fast and then wait two hours to charge batteries,” added Porsche's sales and marketing chief Detlev von Platen. That's why it's pursuing quicker charging times.

The German automaker is no stranger to charging its vehicles' batteries, having already produced plug-in hybrids like the 918 Spyder and E-Hybrid versions of its Panamera and Cayenne models. But the Taycan will be its first completely electric vehicle.

Stemming from the Mission E project (pictured), the Porsche Taycan is slated to pack over 600 horsepower worth of electric power, sending it rocketing to 60 in under 3.5 seconds. It's anticipated to launch in 2020, after which we can expect additional battery-powered vehicles to come rolling out of Zuffenhausen in the coming years.

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Can The Acura TLX Make BMW 3 Series Buyers Think Twice?

Is the TLX good enough to take on the best in its segment?

Acura has been having a hard time over the past several years. It just can’t find an identity. The new NSX supercar will help with that, but the rest of the (mainstream) lineup, such as the 2017 TLX, needs an over dosage of adrenaline. Stat. The TLX debuted for the 2015 model year as a replacement for both the TL and TSX. It’s a mid-size luxury sedan that’s built on the same platform as the current Honda Accord. Heck, it’s even built in the same Ohio factory.

Our tester was equipped with the base 2.4-liter inline-four with 206 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque, with power going to the front wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch. Does that inline-four sound familiar? It should, because it’s also used for the Accord. Go figure.

Because it requires premium fuel for the TLX, however, it does produce an extra 17 ponies over the Accord. So there’s that. The optional engine is a 3.5-liter V6 with 290 hp that comes paired to a nine-speed slushbox, but we’d honestly prefer the cheaper and more fun-to-drive four pot. Interestingly, Acura is trying to lure away BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 buyers with the TLX, but we think that’s a bit of a stretch. Isn’t the TLX more of a top-trim Ford Fusion or Lincoln MKX fighter? Just a thought. Special thanks to Marin Acura for letting us film the car.

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