Porsche Taycan 2022: six month wait for RWD, next Turbo S allocation not until late 2023

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The Porsche Taycan electric sedan and wagon is proving to be a successful formula among luxury buyers in Australia, with the brand expecting to achieve sales similar in number this year to the Taycan’s 531 deliveries in 2021.

A combination of high demand and shortages of key parts – latterly, wiring harnesses – means that allocations are scarce, with wait times of up to 18 months for high-specification Taycan Turbo and Turbo S grades.

That said, the entry-level Taycan RWD ($153,600), launched in Australia in late March 2022, is able to be allocated to customers now, and Porsche is confident deliveries remain possible before Christmas for the single-motor 240kW specification.

The mid-spec Taycan 4S ($194,700 before on-road costs) is proving the most popular variant among Australian buyers. Scarce allocations for the 4S sedan and Cross Turismo wagon mean the trim can only be promised for delivery in early 2023 – though some examples will land this calendar year

Porsche did not mention wait times for the new 440kW Taycan GTS ($237,000) that slots between the 4S and Turbo in the Taycan range.

So there is a significant wait time for the new Taycan in Australia, but if you pick the right variant Porsche’s EV should arrive sooner than a Tesla Model S Plaid, Mercedes-Benz EQS.

Porsche doesn’t carry floor stock of the Taycan in Australia as its lengthy options list mean almost all cars are built to order, however you may be able to get your hands on a Taycan sooner than the above average wait times if you aren’t too picky.

Porsche is encouraging prospective buyers to contact their local dealer if they wish to jump the queue, as order cancellations do occur from time to time. 

How strong is the demand for Porsche’s EV?

Porsche expects a similar Taycan sales to the 531 recorded in 2021, though head of public relations Chris Jordan noted this is due to a shortage of supply, rather than indicative of demand.

Regardless, the result is strong with the Taycan nearly shifting as many units as the BMW 5 Series (601), while outselling Audi’s A6 (251) and A7 (100) in the premium large car segment.

As for the Taycan range itself, Porsche says the 4S is the most popular variant in Australia, with significant interest in Turbo and Turbo S.

The Taycan Cross Turismo lifted wagon body style (that scores adaptive air suspension as standard) is expected to account for 25 percent of sales in Australia. 

All Taycans are based on Porsche’s J1 platform shared with the Audi e-tron GT that offers 800V electric architecture and peak charging speeds of 270kW. 

The WLTP range claim varies between 434km for the RWD base car with the 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus installed, and 405km for the full-fat Turbo S that can reach 100km/h in 2.8 seconds. 

As for the ‘average’ Taycan buyer, instead of being the practical alternative to the 911 sports car in the garage, Porsche Australia says many customers are choosing its EV as the sporty second car that sits next to a Cayenne large SUV in the garage. 

Porsche Taycan 2022: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Taycan RWD: $153,600
• Taycan 4 Cross Turismo: $176,600
• Taycan 4S: $194,700
• Taycan 4S Cross Turismo: $205,300
• Taycan GTS: $237,000
• Taycan Turbo: $276,300
• Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo: $279,000
• Taycan Turbo S: $345,800