Next-Generation Suspension Comes into Its Own on the Highway

Eight months after buying my Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach Package, I’ve already driven more than 5,000 km. With six or seven cars in my garage, it’s unusual for me to put this many miles on any one of them. That says a lot about the Taycan Turbo GT: it’s a car I want to drive every day.

I decided to take it on a proper road trip when I headed to Okayama for “Fureai EV,” an electric-vehicle event. My wife planned to meet me there on the day in her Taycan Cross Turismo 4S, so I set off for Okayama alone the day before. As it turned out, the trip gave me a fresh appreciation for what the Turbo GT can really do.

Heading west on the Chugoku Expressway, I was reminded just how unusual this car is.

The thought of driving long distances in bucket seats might make many people expect to feel worn out. I thought so, too. But once I got behind the wheel, that expectation was quickly overturned. With my body held securely in place, I didn’t have to use extra muscles to brace myself. Less movement means less fatigue. It sounds simple, but it’s the kind of thing you have to experience to really understand.

More than anything, though, Porsche Active Ride is phenomenal.

It’s on an entirely different level from conventional PASM or PDCC. The suspension absorbs bumps from the road while keeping the body remarkably still. My view barely moves at all. I call the ride “Nimbus Cloud”—like Goku’s cloud in Dragon Ball, it feels as though the car is gliding through the air. Even under hard acceleration or braking, the body stays level. It may look like a race car, but I can say without hesitation that it’s more comfortable than any luxury sedan. When it comes to high-speed comfort and stability, I haven’t driven anything that beats it.

Mountain Roads Turn Conventional Wisdom on Its Head

I left the expressway at Yamazaki Interchange in Shisō, Hyogo Prefecture, then took Prefectural Route 53 and continued onto Prefectural Route 72. My destination was Chikusa Kogen Ski Resort, a place I’ve visited many times since childhood. I chose this route for more than its memories: with gentle rises and falls and a steady succession of sweeping corners, it’s an ideal road for driving.

Once I turned onto Prefectural Route 72, the Turbo GT began to show what it could do. This was where the real fun began. It may be hard to believe, but this car, weighing more than two tonnes, feels more nimble than the Boxster I own. I own both, so I can say that with confidence. In slower corners, the Turbo GT can feel even more agile than the Boxster.

The moment I exit one corner, I feel as if I’ve already reached the next. I turn the steering wheel and the car changes direction instantly, with no noticeable delay. There’s almost no lag between thinking and acting. It’s hard to believe a car this heavy can move this way. Active Ride virtually eliminates body roll, while the motors’ instant response helps keep the tires planted. Together, they create a kind of agility that a combustion-engine car simply can’t replicate.

Then I joined Route 482, another fantastic road. One moment it winds through gentle rural scenery; the next, it transforms into a mountain road. Traffic is light, so I can settle into my own rhythm. This road between Hyogo and Okayama is, once again, an excellent choice for a road trip.

I came to a series of tight corners, and here, too, the Turbo GT was like a fish in water. Right, left, then right again. Every change of direction reminded me just how astonishingly agile this car is. It brought back memories of the chicane at Suzuka Circuit, where I’d felt that same fluid, water-like smoothness. I found it here, too. In a combustion-engine car, there’s a brief pause before you accelerate out of a corner. The Turbo GT doesn’t have that pause. The moment it exits one corner, it’s already pulling into the next. That seamless flow is what an electric sports car is all about.

How EV Acceleration Creates a New Kind of Driving Experience

After spending the night in Maniwa, I set off the next morning on a route that took me from Route 313 to Prefectural Routes 30 and 375, then onto Route 429. Route 429 is a joy to drive. “Japan’s country road” is the perfect description: light traffic, beautiful scenery, and a road that seems to stretch on forever. It’s ideal for a relaxed drive at your own pace—and just the kind of road that makes a great road trip.

Then came the celebrated Oku-Kibi Kaido.

This is where the Turbo GT really comes into its own. The car responds to the accelerator with incredible speed. Actually, “fast” doesn’t quite capture it. “Instant” is more like it. With no gear changes, full power is available at any speed. Whether you’re doing 20 km/h or 40 km/h, maximum torque comes in the moment you press the accelerator.

The traction control works with extraordinary precision, keeping the tires hooked up to the road. There’s almost none of the traction loss you might get in a high-powered engine car. Press the accelerator, and the car moves forward exactly as you’d expect. It’s an addictive feeling. Active Ride keeps the body remarkably level, too. Even as I feel intense acceleration and cornering forces, my body stays steady. So does my view. This is the modern Porsche—or perhaps the sports car of the future.

As I drove along the Oku-Kibi Kaido, I reached a conclusion.

I’ll be honest: after experiencing this kind of driving, today’s 911 feels like it’s missing something. As a Porsche fan, I’m almost reluctant to say it, but it’s true. The difference is that great. This isn’t about gasoline versus electric power. When it comes to driving enjoyment, the Turbo GT is in a class of its own. I understand the appeal of the 911’s engine sound and manual transmission. But in pure performance and responsiveness to the driver, the Turbo GT has surpassed the current 911. I have to admit it.

What 540 km Revealed About Practicality—and How It Differs from a Regular Taycan

I covered about 540 km on this road trip and needed to charge just twice. I topped up for around five minutes during a restroom stop at a roadside station in Chikusa, then fast-charged for 30 minutes at a Nissan dealership in Maniwa. That was all it took to get home with plenty of range to spare. The Taycan Turbo GT is more than practical enough for a road trip. Worrying about charging infrastructure is now largely a thing of the past.

After the event at Convex Okayama, I swapped cars with my wife and headed home in her Taycan Cross Turismo 4S. The comparison was fascinating. Even though they’re both Taycans, they’re completely different cars. The moment I got into the Cross Turismo, I noticed the difference. It’s milder and more comfortable; in Normal mode, it feels like a comfortable luxury sedan. But its performance is outstanding, too. One press of the accelerator delivers warp-speed acceleration, and its high-speed stability is in another league. It’s a superb car in its own right.

My wife’s take was interesting, too. “The Turbo GT is incredible. It’s almost too capable—and when I just want to take it easy, its athleticism can actually make it tiring.” She has a point. The Turbo GT always seems to demand that you be in attack mode. Even when I want to cruise, it’s as if the car is urging me to push harder. Its name doesn’t even include “Taycan”—it’s simply called the “Turbo GT.” It’s best to think of it as a different model altogether. Though it belongs to the Taycan family, it stands apart as a car in its own right.

I used to think a road trip in a car two metres wide couldn’t be much fun.

I’ve owned two Panameras, but I rarely felt the urge to take either one on a road trip. They were excellent cars, but somehow they didn’t feel quite as easygoing. The Taycan Turbo GT is different. When the weekend rolls around, I find myself wondering where I should drive next. That’s how much fun it is to drive. To me, that’s the essence of the Turbo GT. It’s not just about speed or comfort. It’s a car that makes driving itself the destination.

The Turbo GT and my wife’s Cross Turismo 4S

Route Map