Key Changes to the New Porsche Taycan

Porsche recently unveiled a substantially updated Taycan, with a range of significant improvements.

The headline changes include more power, faster charging and increased range. Some of these improvements may also reach existing Taycan owners through software updates, Mike Mientkötter, Porsche’s spokesperson for the Taycan and Panamera, reportedly told Australian media.

That said, Porsche is still assessing which features can be brought to existing models. Some of the changes involve hardware, so no decision has been made—including whether any updates will be offered to current owners.

Upgraded Battery Pack

The biggest change for the 2024 Taycan is its higher-density, lighter battery pack. Capacity has increased from 79 kWh to 89 kWh in the base rear-wheel-drive model, and from 93 kWh to 105 kWh in the 4S and above. A new carbon-fiber composite shield also trims 9 kg from the battery pack’s weight.

Combined with improved aerodynamics, the changes add up to as much as 200 km of extra range per charge in some versions. The new Taycan can travel up to 678 km on a single charge (WLTP)—a substantial increase over the previous model’s maximum range of 420 km.

More Power and a New Feature

The 2024 Taycan is more powerful than its predecessor, with output gains of 20 to 110 kW, depending on the version. Models equipped with the Sport Chrono Package and Performance Battery Plus also get a new “Push-to-Pass” function, which delivers an extra 70 kW for a short burst when overtaking. It works much like the Sport Response button found on earlier Porsche models, giving the driver an immediate boost in power.

However, these upgrades won’t be available to existing Taycan owners, as retrofitting them would require the removal and installation of expensive components. Porsche is still considering other possible updates.

Faster Charging and a New Display

The 2024 Taycan also gets an improved battery thermal management system. It can charge at up to 320 kW at 15°C and sustain that rate for longer, compared with the previous model’s peak of 270 kW at 35°C.

As a result, charging from 10% to 80% takes 18 minutes, down from 21.5 minutes.

A new charging screen has also been added to the digital instrument cluster, showing the battery’s current charge level, temperature and maximum available charging power. This new display feature may also be possible to add to older Taycan models.

However, Porsche’s representative stressed that updates for older Taycans are still under consideration and are not guaranteed. Certification requirements in some markets are also a factor, so Porsche cannot simply promise that existing cars will be able to charge faster.

For current Taycan owners, there’s reason to hope that at least some of the improvements introduced for the 2024 model could make their way to existing cars. Major upgrades involving hardware may be difficult, but in the EV world, adding or improving features through software updates is becoming the norm.

As a Taycan owner myself, I’ll be watching for Porsche’s next announcement to see whether it decides to offer updates.