E-Shift (virtual gear shift) "Surprisingly Convincing" Review

[mkg3]

The Taycan can never be as fun as an eBoxster/eCayman. The eB/eC will be about 25cm/10" shorter wheelbase. That makes a huge difference in tossability. eB is also a convertible.

There's no reason the eB/eC/Taycan can't use the same platform. There are many platforms, like PPE, that can stretched. With proper planning the entire vehicle in front of B-pillar can be shared. The rear motor and suspension too. Same battery modules too but with a different quantity.

As I understand it, based on several different reporting, Porsche struggled with the electric Boxser/Cayman platform due to the seat height being too tall and its weight vs range.

The skateboard battery layout (e.g., Taycan) creates the floor being too high for a proper sports car. Also, Porsche wants the battery cells are housed in a configuration that mimics weight distribution of their mid-engined vehicle.

If it is the same PPE platform, it is heavily modified and is unique to itself. Also reported weight is less than 4,000 lbs which is lighter than Taycan by 1,000 lbs or so.

I had been waiting for the 718-EV and Porsche kept kicking the can down the road so I finally got tired of waiting and decided to go in another direction. In that process, I leaned a lot about the 718-EV and only paid attention to actual interviews of Porsche execs and engineers - not the internet speculations.

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[Fun TC Driving]

I hope someone here starts a new thread focused on the 718 EV — and this one can be re-focused to the 2027 Taycan E-shift (and other enhancements it received).

 

[69Mach390]

I hope someone here starts a new thread focused on the 718 EV — and this one can be re-focused to the 2027 Taycan E-shift (and other enhancements it received).

Fake shifts and sounds seem as silly as vegan cheeseburgers. Nobody makes meat shaped and flavored broccoli. Especially in a car with a REAL transmission that was designed to shift smoothly.

Back on track?

 

[Fun TC Driving]

I cannot wait for all the skeptics to try it. If it then gets raspberries from them so be it.

 

[69Mach390]

I cannot wait for all the skeptics to try it. If it then gets raspberries from them so be it.

Other cars already have it. It definitely gets mixed reviews. Seems like something fun to try a few times then turn it off forever.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

Agreed. A cousin to launch control’s use, especially for those new Porsches that have push to pass.

 

[PorscheTaycan]

I’ve never used launch control in any of my cars that ever had it lol. But I would use this.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

I too have never used launch control. I tried the electoernic sounds in our BMW iX about three times, then about the same amount of times in our Macan EV — but never again in each.

Nevertheless I too look forward to trying E-shift. I think that I will enjoy it for a long time. Could be wrong of course, but that is what trying new things is all about — seeing if they became long term sustained or a pretty quick fade-away.

I can not wait to try the Taycan’s E-shift. Just re-listened to one of the E-shift videos this morning and think it will be a long term winner for me. I hope a member of this forum gets it and posts their own review here soonest.

 

[f1eng]

@f1eng, out of curiosity what lap time gain did Williams expect from their CVT? Was the gain due to elimination of shift time, optimizing time in the power band, fuel efficiency allowing less fuel to be carried, or something else?

It was circuit dependant and I had left before the final version was tested and barely remember the results of my, somewhat crude in those days, simulation over 40 years ago.
The gain was in keeping the engine near the peak power for more of the time and eliminating the deceleration during the gearshift - which is huge at thigher speeds given the low weight of the car and high drag.
It used a bit more fuel since it used more power.

 

[f1eng]

Having read the Top Gear article, I've converted from thinking it is totally useless to possibly very useful.

I didn't know it added some vibration as well.

In fact, every article I've read is positive about it.

If we keep this up EVs will become as shite as piston engined cars.
Like buying a computer and simulating MS-DOS

 

[f1eng]

The confusion comes due to people thinking the taycan is a sports car... despite 4 doors, huge size and weight, rear seats, etc... and being legally classified as a sedan/limousine everywhere

the 718 ev is not on the same platform as the taycan.

I was pottering home from a fishing trip a couple of weeks ago on a road much used by UK magazines for road test videos which I admittedly drive often, when a 911 turbo overtook me.
I carried on pottering for a while and then thought "I wonder if I could catch him" so set off, caught him easily and he then started cutting corners and trying to lose me but it was easy to stay with him without cutting corners (I didn't get to 76 years old by driving like a plonker).
In fact he only got away when the road straightened out and he was prepared to exceed the speed limit by more than I thought sensible and lifted off.
The 911 turbo was an older one - I am not really familiar enough with the models to confidently say exactly which maybe 997.
Anyway big tyres, active anti roll bars, rear wheel steer and torque vectoring on mine were an advantage but it surprised me that even him taking big risks in blind corners I caught him on the twisty bits and easily on acceleration, I only needed full throttle to catch him never when following.

So it is certainly too big for my taste but tyre size can compensate a lot for weight in lateral and braking grip.
I would say it is a sports saloon, as described by Porsche, and a better one than I had originally expected (except it is FAR too big for a car with so little passenger space).

 

[whitex]

Agreed. A cousin to launch control’s use, especially for those new Porsches that have push to pass.

I've owned multiple cars with launch control, never used it, other than maybe once to make sure it's working. I have zero usecases for launch control, but enjoy the max power available at any time (typically higher speeds). I have modded my cars, including the Taycan to enable launch control power at all times. Push-to-Pass does have a valid usecase when on track (precise, explicit control when to use X seconds of overboost), but for street driving there should be an option in settings to simply allow max power for however many seconds when the throttle hits the floor. Audi has this concept of "overboost" via the accelerator.

 

[Fish Fingers]

If we keep this up EVs will become as shite as piston engined cars.
Like buying a computer and simulating MS-DOS

We can do even better than that..........

Don't power our efficient EVs with electricity from renewable sources.
Let's use 'beautiful clean coal' instead!

Then we can really feel like its the 1950s (apart from the heatwaves, floods and forest fires)

 

[Crazymind]

If Ferrari can make a fake manual I think it’s fair Porsche can make their fake ev shifter…maybe with a gear lever as well?

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