Low-priced Porsche Taycan electric sedan launched to take on Tesla Model S

Porsche has introduced a new entry-level version of its Taycan electric sedan that better competes with the Tesla Model S on price.

The first rear-wheel-drive Taycan offered in the U.S. starts at $79,990 but is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit that brings that to $72,400, while the cheapest Model S lists for $69,420.

The Taycan comes standard with a 79.2-kilowatt-hour battery, but can also be ordered with a larger 93.4-kilowatt-hour pack, both of which can be charged to 80 percent in about 22.5 minutes at one of Porsche's high-speed charging stations.

The EPA range ratings have not been released, but the all-wheel-drive $103,800 Taycan 4S is rated at 199 miles and 227 miles with the same two batteries. The all-wheel-drive $69,420 version of the Model S is rated at 402 miles, but several independent tests have suggested that the Porsche is underrated compared to real-world usage due to the use of a testing protocol that's different than Tesla's.

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The Taycan borrows its single 402 horsepower motor from the 4S and can accelerate to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 143 mph. A computer-controlled suspension is standard and an adjustable air suspension is available, which can lower the car at speed to make it more aerodynamically efficient.

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Porsche sold 20,015 Taycans globally in 2020 and the order books are now open for the entry-level Taycan with deliveries planned to begin this spring.