Riding shotgun in Porsche's fastest EV

CGTN Europe's Peter Oliver rides along with racing driver Lars Kern in Porsche's new EV, the Taycan Turbo GT.

Home to some of the biggest car manufacturers in the world and the famous speed limit free Autobahn, Germany is often cited as a car lovers dream. When it comes to sports car models the traditional combustion engine is now getting a run for its money from electric offerings.

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One of those is the Porsche Taycan. The German sports car pioneers just launched their new version of the model and CGTN was whipped round the track in Leipzig by Porsche development driver Lars Kerns, who took the car and our reporter from 0 to 200 km per hour in shade under 7 seconds. When asked what the main differences are between the EV and the combustion engine, Lars put it simply.

"The major difference between driving a combustion engine sports car and an electric one. I think you just felt it. It's this initial torque. So whatever you do on the pedal. So if there's no build up, the revs don't have to build up. It's just laid out straight away and it's pretty special. And it makes it really a lot of fun for me."

Readers I can tell you it was quite the experience for the reporter as well, I'm just not sure "fun" was top of my list of words to describe it. This particular EV sports car can comfortably reach speeds of 315 kmph and put the drivers through a couple of extra G's from the gravitational force exerted on the body.

Between trying to make sure I didn't become reacquainted with my lunch I was able to get off a question to Lars about what he prefers, the combustion sports car or the electric, does the lack of a roaring engine, change the racing experience?

"At the beginning, it was kind of a different experience, but as soon as I wanted power, it accelerates. As soon as I'm on the brakes - it brakes, just like a normal car."

In order to exert the force needed these sports cars come with a battery that adds a lot of extra weight to the vehicle. Professional test driver Lars explained that the reason we are able to rocket around the track the way we are is because the way the car is set up counter balances any additional weight issues.

"You can feel it really eliminates the, the weight, issue. So for me, the cornering, braking, turning, the suspension - everything shapes down so it feels like we are carrying no extra weight at all in this car."

All of the big car makers either have or have plans for an EV sport model, what we were told from those at Porsche is that while the combustion engine certainly has a big place in the companies past and present, in the future, the EV may well be king.

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