Cheaper Porsche Taycan 4S Is Not A Tesla Killer: Here's Why

If plunking down $104,000 for an all-new Porsche Taycan 4S all-electric 4-door coupé is OK with you, you're more than welcome to cruise the highways in this latest example of excellent but “cheap” German automotive engineering.

The Taycan 4S is the cheapest of the three Taycans that have so far been announced by Porsche. Its other two "brudern," the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S unveiled in early September, cost $153,310 and $187,610, respectively. No chump change, these.

Porsche has just unveiled the 4S, which is obviously priced this "cheaply" to better compete against the Tesla Model S Performance, which comes in at $99,990 before adding the only two available options. The Taycans and the Model S are competing head-to-head for the wallets of EV buyers everywhere.

But the ultimate in all-electric sports car is the upcoming Tesla Roadster (2020), which is expected to retail for $200,000 (base price), but only if you make a $50,000 reservation. A special “Founders Series” model limited to just 1,000 sports cars will cost $250,000.

At $104,000, the Taycan 4S is an 80 kWh, all-wheel drive machine. The 4S can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, which is the slowest among the three Taycans. In contrast, the Turbo can do this in 3.2 seconds while the Turbo S is even faster at 2.8 seconds.

The Taycan 4S will deliver an European (WLTP) range of 407 km (250 miles) on a full charge. A larger battery model is also available.

The 4S will deliver 420 kW (571 PS; 563 hp) of power and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). It’s capable of 640 Nm (472 lb. ft.) of torque.

It's worth noting that both the range and acceleration of the 4S are inferior to the Tesla Model S, so this machine is definitely not a "Tesla killer." The Tesla is also longer ranged.

A key advantage accruing to all Tesla EV owners doesn't reside in their machines but in Tesla's unparalleled nationwide Supercharger network. This network makes long road trips in Teslas practical.

Porsche is still building its own U.S. network with the assistance of Volkswagen.