Photo: Porsche
There's no taking back what the Tesla Model S has done to the luxury car market. Sure, it might not handle like a Porsche or have over a century of history behind it like Mercedes, but it has taken the world by storm. With news titles often claiming that it's selling better than the A8 or S-Class, even the Germans are having to search for an answer to the silicon sedan.
The latest report from British magazine Autocar suggests Porsche wants to take the fight to Tesla when it launches the Pajun, a smaller sedan that's been on and off the drawing board for a couple of years.
The same publication claims an electric version of the Pajun is currently under development. Company expects have tasked engineers to make a car that will travel more than 250 miles (402 km) on a single charge. It would also need to have around 420 horsepower in order to compete with the Model S' straight-line acceleration and also be worthy of the Stuttgart badge.
Of course, this could all be unfounded speculation, since the Pajun has not been approved for development. Porsche is still a relatively small company when compared to BMW or Mercedes and its resources are currently going into new engine development (hybrid and turbo) and the next Panamera, both of which take priority.
Back in July, we told you guys that the Porsche rival to the BMW 5 Series will not be ready until 2019. That's five years from now, so it's way to early for Porsche to discuss driving range or start electric powertrain development.
At the beginning of 2014, the same Autocar spoke to Porsche CEO Matthias Muller, who said the Pajun is "a difficult decision, because Porsche has just taken a huge step getting into the Macan market — not just developing the car but doubling the factory capacity, including the body shop and paint shop. It has been a huge effort for the whole company."
Our say? A sedan the size of a 5 Series that looks like a Porsche and goes like a Tesla is a brilliant idea. But this latest report is no cause to hold your breath any time soon. If you want a luxury EV sedan, Tesla should remain your best bet for the next five years.
The same publication claims an electric version of the Pajun is currently under development. Company expects have tasked engineers to make a car that will travel more than 250 miles (402 km) on a single charge. It would also need to have around 420 horsepower in order to compete with the Model S' straight-line acceleration and also be worthy of the Stuttgart badge.
Of course, this could all be unfounded speculation, since the Pajun has not been approved for development. Porsche is still a relatively small company when compared to BMW or Mercedes and its resources are currently going into new engine development (hybrid and turbo) and the next Panamera, both of which take priority.
Back in July, we told you guys that the Porsche rival to the BMW 5 Series will not be ready until 2019. That's five years from now, so it's way to early for Porsche to discuss driving range or start electric powertrain development.
At the beginning of 2014, the same Autocar spoke to Porsche CEO Matthias Muller, who said the Pajun is "a difficult decision, because Porsche has just taken a huge step getting into the Macan market — not just developing the car but doubling the factory capacity, including the body shop and paint shop. It has been a huge effort for the whole company."
Our say? A sedan the size of a 5 Series that looks like a Porsche and goes like a Tesla is a brilliant idea. But this latest report is no cause to hold your breath any time soon. If you want a luxury EV sedan, Tesla should remain your best bet for the next five years.
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