The 2023 model year update the Porsche Taycan received last month is not insignificant, and yet the German carmaker is preparing a more complex refresh for its first electric vehicle. And while we can expect the Taycan to receive a mid-cycle revamp in 2023 or 2024, the digital art community has already proposed a new derivative: the Taycan GT3.
At least for the time being, Porsche’s GT division is focused solely on its sports cars, so it won’t come anywhere near the Taycan. This isn’t about electric propulsion, as the recent 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance concept demonstrates. Instead, the distance is owed to the Taycan being a long-roof model.
So, it’s up to digital artists to give the Taycan the GT treatment, which is precisely what Vishnu Suresh (aka zephyr_designz) has done. At 19, the self-taught pixel master is all too aware of the industry’s trends. So, with multiple tuners having already released real-world body kits for the EV (the extra power is confined to the realm of gaming for now—try Forza Motorsport), this rendering introduces 911 GT3 elements to the Taycan.
Using the “standard” body type (think: not the Cross and Sport Turismo wagons), the CGI doesn’t simply add the generous wing of the current 992 GT3 and call it a day. Instead, we’re looking at a widebody treatment, while a few bits and pieces on the EV (e.g., front wing air extractors) also seem to venture into GT3 RS territory—after, the 992 GT3 RS is just around the corner.
The Porsche Taycan has to defend its solid position on the BEV market
As stated above, we’re not expecting Porsche to add a GT3 to the Taycan range anytime soon. And while the current lineup, which consists of ten models spread across the three body derivatives mentioned above, may or may not receive new members, the mid-cycle revamp is not optional.
You see, like the 2022 update, the 2023 one mentioned in the intro improves the battery’s heating and cooling. So, thanks to this complimentary feature, you get extra range and quicker charging times, while a refreshed PCM 6.0 infotainment system with wireless Android Auto is also on the house. However, with the rest of the electric car market moving at lightning speed, the Taycan needs as many novelties as it can get.
Sure, Porsche’s EV has been a top seller, having found over 75,000 customers across the world since its 2019 debut (it’s a tight sales race with the carmaker’s 911 backbone sports car). But heavy-hitting competitors like the Tesla Model S and the Lucid Air have added three-motor models that leave the dual-motor Taycan Turbo S range-topper trailing in their wake. Then there’s Hyundai with its EV6 GT, whose performance allows it to punch deep into Taycan territory for about half the price (think: $70,000)—hey, here’s the said artist’s widebody take on the EV6 GT.
Oh, and let’s not forget about Polestar, with the former Volvo performance arm, which is now its own brand, also targeting Porsche’s battery-powered operations.
Porsche is developing an onslaught of new models these days
Why haven’t we heard anything about a Taycan mid-cycle revamp? For one, it’s still a bit early, but we could expect to see prototypes of the facelifted model testing within the next twelve months.
Meanwhile, Porsche has a lot on its hands, from completing the development of the third-generation Panamera (here’s how its more powerful V8 sounds like) to introducing new electric models such as a Macan crossover successor or the production version of the said 718-related concept.
