Turbonite yay or nay?

[Perry]

I haven't seen much discussion about this on the forums and since I'm again on the journey of speccing another Taycan, I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks about this?

On the Turbo models, Turbonite is mandatory for a few details like the Porsche crest, while some are optional. For the exterior options it seems it's effectively a choice between Turbonite and carbon fibre/black. This is shown on the rims and a few accents around the side skirts and diffuser. Both designs are as far as I can tell more or less exclusive to the Turbo models, yet Turbonite is what Porsche themselves are pushing as the "Turbo colour".

The Turbonite options are all free so it's entirely a matter of taste and I'm myself struggling to really make my mind up about it.

Here are two examples of one with standard colours, and one with Turbonite inlays and painted wheels. Another choice is of course to go with e.g. just the painted wheels.

What are your opinions?

Sponsored

 

[WuffvonTrips]

I'd want to see it in person in the context of the bodywork colour- I don't trust the renderings and even photos of the real thing to be truly representative of what sounds- from Porsche's own marketing description- like a 10:1 mix of gunmetal (or the Darksilver interior trim) to gold (or Neodyme)- I expect it to go well, (especially on the wheels) with some colours (greens and dark colours) but might look odd with others. The fact that, as an interior accent, it's only available with an all-black interior, rings alarm bells to me that Porsche might think it doesn't work with other interior colours.
Incidentally, even where the Turbonite works well with other colours, I think that the enforced loss of the lovely coloured Porsche crest on bonnet and steering wheel makes the car look less special and cheaper.

 

[Murph7355]

I wouldn't on principle - the name is so wanky I'd be embarrassed to have to say it out loud.

 

[BigBob]

Please put a 'can't tell the difference' option in the poll.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I am trying to figure this out too, suspect the gold aspect only be noticeable in strong / direct light. I’m thinking volcano grey which it looks like it will work well with. No samples at dealers does not help!

 

[24Neptune]

It’s a trendy thing so if not keeping the car too long and you like it, go with it. I’m a hard no personally, but thin it will become regrettable even for those who like it if keeping the car.

 

[W1NGE]

Good god no!

Turbosh1te IMHO!

 

[bluesky]

I have to admit I’m not thrilled by the turbonite gimmick. It looks like Porsche marketing came up with this to add some exclusivity aura to Turbo models and maybe sell more of them through that allure.

My objection is twofold. First I‘m not in love with the color itself, or at least what I can see of it in bad pictures and the notoriously bad renders in the Configurator. Clearly this is something that needs to be seen in person, so maybe I’ll like it better when a real sample is available. However, regardless of the exact appearance, and despite the fact that I actually kind of like monochrome wheel caps in some builds, I think losing the colored crest on the steering wheel is a mistake.

My second problem is that turbonite is applied inconsistently around the car, depending on how you option it. Exterior bodywork options will override it with black or exterior paint color, either as a complete package or in just quadrants that you select (say front fascia only). What happens to the rest of the car (turbonite on other sections making it inconstent)? Hmmm, not great. In the interior, some club leathers turn on Neodyme, overriding the turbonite as far as the configurator shows, except for the crest on the steering wheel. And what if you don’t want Neodyme but would rather have turbonite? You can override the Neodyme with one of the interior accent options (like dark silver), but that’s starting to get silly because dark silver is pretty similar to turbonite. Does Porsche really want to enforce turbonite consistency across the car or leave it up to the buyer to make their own choices and deal with whatever messes result? I certainly vote for the buyer choice, but this seems all too much like turbonite is a bad idea that wil result in each individual Turbo car having it’s own strange brew of turbonite bits.

 

[hitmonlee]

For those that want to check it out in person first, it should already be available on MY24 Panamera Turbos, no?

 

[Boss Hogg]

For those that want to check it out in person first, it should already be available on MY24 Panamera Turbos, no?

It will be but no cars delivered yet

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

I have to admit I’m not thrilled by the turbonite gimmick. It looks like Porsche marketing came up with this to add some exclusivity aura to Turbo models and maybe sell more of them through that allure.

This^. The editorial in the latest 000 magazine calls this out as well - on their path towards IPO/becoming a luxury brand, Porsche has dropped the crest from their corp logo, and has started working towards differentiating the upper trims - presumably with the goal of making 'turbo' a sub-brand. (Which is ironic, since it was something they used solely to win in racing, the antithesis of 'glamor'. Not only that, but a) all* of their engines are now turbocharged and b) they're marching towards electrifying 80% of their range.)

Someone posted a closeup of the new 'turbonite' crest, and the dimples (originally created with a hammer and a nailset, so inherently "manual"/artisanal) have been replaced with a precise honeycomb pattern - no doubt to convey "hi tech".

I don't begrudge Porsche their aspirations, nor their clear attempts to differentiate the top-of-the-line models from those of the hoi-polloi/me; it's clear, though, these have nothing to do with being "bred by/through racing", a claim they could have made until now with a straight face.

*Edit: not all engines, as the GT3/GT4 will probably remain NA.

Sponsored