All that glass: The Taycan can display up to 53 inches of screen space.
Do you like displays? The 2020 Porsche Taycan has them all. Six images have been released by Porsche of the new electric car’s cabin, ahead of its September debut. They are digitally intensive and show a cockpit that takes Porsche’s interior design language into the 21st century.
The Taycan does not abandon Porsche design traditions. The two-element layout of the dash is still intact. It has a horizontally-focused “upper wing” with a straight face and a narrower “lower wings” for where the transmission tunnel would be on an electric-powered car. The similarities are obvious when you compare the Taycan’s cabin to a 911 (we’ve made it possible below – please forgive the offset angle in 911).
The 911 has never had so many displays. The Taycan’s cockpit crown jewel is the 16.8-inch, curved display that sits atop its steering column. It is quite striking. It is striking. We saw it at an embargoed backgrounder earlier this week. Our reaction was similar to the first time we saw it in the Tesla Model S. There has never been something like this attached to mass-produced cars before. The display is surrounded by touch-capacitive buttons which control the headlights, stability, and vehicle ride height.
The large screen is functional and allows drivers to choose from four preset modes that they can cycle through using the steering wheel. As it replicates the 5-dial layout found on Porsche’s cars for decades, the standard setup (shown below), will be familiar to Porsche enthusiasts. In place of a central speedometer, a “dial” in the center features a digital speedometer and a power meter. The central portion is flanked by two separate “dials”, with the information becoming less important the farther you look.
The cluster can be configured to act as an extension of your navigation screen. There are two map modes, one that replaces the center dial and the other that turns it into a full-screen mode. The entire 16.8-inch screen can be used in Full Map mode. A Pure mode limits the display to speed and traffic signs. Right of the instrument cluster, you will see a 10.9 inch touchscreen. You can see another screen right in front the passenger if you look further. These screens blend in with the dash when they are removed. Porsche deserves praise for resisting the temptation to use tablets as a marketing tool. The operating system used by both displays is different from that found in modern Porsches. Although the customizable home screen is cleaner and more intuitive than Porsche’s current infotainment system, the three-tile layout on the passenger display reminds us a little too much of the current version BMW’s iDrive. If the three-tile reconfigurable layout is too complicated, the screen that shows individual tiles lets the driver access the relevant apps and place the information in the center.
The center console contains a third (or fourth screen, depending on whether you check the box for the passenger display). It measures 8.4 inches. This screen is the main interface for climate control, while the lower part doubles as a touchpad. It is a simplified version of Lexus’ trackpad setup. It also features handwriting recognition. You can see the charging status of your vehicle while it is parked or plugged in on the lower screen.
Taycan’s forward-thinking cabin has a downside. It comes in the form yet another virtual assistant that we can argue with. Just say “Hey Porsche”, followed by a natural language command, and the car will respond. We expect similar functionality to rivals Mercedes-Benz or BMW.
The electrically controlled climate control vents are another advanced option. The “Virtual Airflow Control”, which is paired with the unit, allows owners to select presets for airflow from their climate control system and then adjust the electric shutters themselves. An optional package with four climate control zones includes a 5.9-inch LCD display that manages the rear climate controls. Porsche claims traditional louvers are gone. We’ll have to test these electric devices more before we can agree.
Porsche is taking steps towards sustainability beyond the redesign of the design and implementation of a glass cockpit to rival the F-22 Raptor pilots. Optional Race-Tex upholstery is made from recycled polyester fiber and produces less carbon dioxide in production. Recycled materials are also used in the floor carpets. We were unable to experience either of these materials. However, we support the use sustainable cabin materials. When the Porsche Taycan debuts, we’ll have more information, including a deep dive.