For 2027, Porsche is upping the ante in the driver engagement department for the Taycan EV, adding an “E-Shift” feature that will have drivers feeling like they’re operating a manual transmission. Bear in mind, of course, that the Taycan already has that box somewhat ticked in that it does have two traditional gears – 1st and 2nd – before the EV motors take over entirely.

Porsche Taycan E-Shift

Available on every single Taycan model, E-Shift will simulate not just the shifting of gears – eight of them, done vial wheel-mounted paddles — but the way a car’s body moves while doing so. There will also be simulated engine sounds, as well as a virtual rev counter. It will also use the EV motors to induce drag on downshifts, much like Hyundai has done with their Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N EVs.

This is a bit of an about face from Porsche, who has reportedly been pretty steadfast against fake engine sounds and transmissions on EVs up until now. Now, if they could just go the extra mile and add “fake” engine sounds from their catalogue of famous race cars and sports, cars, they’d really be on to something. Imagine cruising down the boulevard sounding like a 1962 356 B Carrera 2, then hitting your favourite canyon road sounding like  a manic V10-powered Carrera GT!

E-gear isn’t the only addition to the Taycan for ’27; they’ll also be adding the new infotainment system that debuted on the Cayenne Electric.

Called Cayenne Electric, it allows users to customize the infotainment and ambient interior lighting colours, has five times more processing power than previous, enhanced voice control and provides a host of widgets so the infotainment system feels more like a smartphone.

Porsche Taycan Manthey Kit

Porsche Taycan Manthey Kit

They’ve also optimized the charging planner system built into the navigation app with a more robust library of charging stations. Speaking of charging: you can now plug in to a NACS fast charge port on the passenger side, which has now leapfrogged the DC fast charger on the driver’s side. Used to be the passenger side charge port was only compatible with level II chargers.

On the styling front, Porsche has added 16 new paint-to-sample colour choices, ranging from classics like Shark Blue to all new hues like Loretta Purple and Rose Red. If you want even more oomph on the styling front, the Manthey Kit to their Turbo GT model, so long as they’ve already selected the Weissach package. Manthey adds new aero, larger front brakes, very racing car-esque wheel and tire package and updated suspension and powertrain tuning. It was enough to have a Taycan Turbo GT Manthey lap the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife racetrack in 6:55.553 minutes, which is a lap record.