Will the new all-electric Taycan still have that all-important Porsche soul?
SOULFUL
Stephen: Yes, of course it will. Times change and technologies evolve. Look at how much technology is in the 992 and that still has a Porsche soul. Why should the Taycan be any different?
Steve: It depends on whether it’s air cooled! But seriously, I’m sure it will have soul and a hybrid 911 will be incredible.
Nick: I’m keeping everything crossed…
Steven: I think it probably will. Having been in a Panamera recently, that did, so hopefully the same will apply.
Barry: Soul in cars is intangible. People talk about the sound of an air-cooled flat-six, but what makes the Taycan special may be something that we don’t even know about yet.
Rich: Porsche doesn’t usually get it wrong.
Mike: Most definitely.
SOULLESS
Graham: If it’s as good as the 918, then yes. If not, then no. I’m thinking it’s going to be a no – it will probably be just another mass-produced, anonymous electric car.
Omoturbo: To have a soul one must have a voice, character, be not overly complicated, bring joy and be able to wake the dead with your vocals, something the best Porsches have done easily. If all this is missing, it’s just a tool minus the important bits that make you want it.
John: Keeping the concept styling would have helped...
Guy: Surely Porsche would keep developing it until it’s right? I’m not sure that an electric car from anyone will have ‘soul’, though.
Bill: In theory, there’s no reason why an all-electric car can’t have soul. But true Porsche petrolheads know in their hearts that something fundamental will be lost. I’m glad from an environmental perspective but the move to electric cars still makes me rather sad.
50% / 50% split between electrifying and a big turn-off
Whats the verdict?
There were some robust views on both sides of this debate, which delivered a predictably even split. In the final analysis, though, we can probably all accept that soul, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and agree to differ.
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