Porsche is set to launch a crossover-styled version of the Taycan. It will be based on the Mission E Cross Turismo, will be more off-road-worthy, and will be the third official model in the Taycan range.

It won't differ too much from the concept, featuring mainly detail changes, but the same overall body and design. Some details, like the mirrors, the roof, and the rear light cluster will be different, as we’ve seen on Taycan sedan prototypes that are currently undergoing testing.

The Taycan sedan will be revealed sometime in 2019 and hit the market in 2020, so the Taycan crossover should debut sometime after the turn of the decade.

Exterior

The Taycan Sport Turismo Cross (not its actual name, but there’s a good chance it may be called that) will essentially be a jacked up version of the Taycan Sport Turismo (the wagon variant) with body cladding and a more rugged appearance.

Most of it could just be put into production as is, although Porsche will simplify some design elements before it does.

The front end will most likely remain the same, but with a number plate, and maybe without those daytime running lights that protrude from the leading edge of the hood. The mirrors will also be different in the production version, and if it does use body cladding like that of the concept, it will be modified to be made more practical - what the concept has would probably get filled with mud and dirt ten seconds after departing tarmac.

The light bar running across the back will also probably be different, although we can’t see from the camouflaged sedan prototype what the exact design will be like - but it will look closer to that of the Cayenne and Panamera models than it does to the concept.

Interior

The concept’s interior was much less production-ready than the exterior, featuring no fewer than four screens inside, a center console with absolutely no buttons (not even for the hazards), and dashboard shapes that would not really be feasible for a production car.

But if you take one look at the inside of a current Panamera model, you will have a better understanding of how the interior of the Taycan range of vehicle will turn out like.

Drivetrain

Porsche will most likely use a one motor per axle setup, with one driving the front wheels and the other the rears.

Estimated range at the moment is 500 km (or 310 miles) but it may increase by the time the raised Taycan reaches production some two or three years from now.

Pricing

The Taycan sedan is expected to cost from around $80,000, but the crossover-style wagon will probably be more expensive and also be offered with most of the optional extras already fitted to further bump up its price - it will most likely cost in excess of $100,000.

Competition

Mercedes EQC

Mercedes recently unveiled the actual production version of its EQC high-riding all-electric car. Unlike the Taycan Cross which is a raised wagon with plastic body cladding, the EQC is an actual SUV very similar in look and dimensions to the current Mercedes GLC model.

It won’t be as quick as the Porsche, but it will probably cost around the same and offer a more cavernous and practical interior since it is a taller overall vehicle, but it will have a bit less range. The EQC will start reaching showrooms in Europe next year and US showrooms in 2020.

Read our full review on the 2019 Mercedes EQC

Tesla Model X

The first and still the most well known high-riding electric vehicle is the Tesla Model X which is a very interesting SUV offering. It has a simple yet very effective design and the rear “falcon wing” doors are both spectacular to look at in action and also genuinely useful in most situations.

It also packs a lot of performance, and there’s a chance its most potent version will still outaccelerate most of these new contenders from the segment. It too costs in excess of $100,000, so it will be a direct rival to the high-riding Taycan.

Read our full review on the 2019 Tesla Model X

Final Thoughts

Porsche was only planning to launch the Taycan as a sedan and touring model, but since the Geneva motor show concept was so well received and attracted a lot of positive feedback the manufacturer gave it the green light.

It won’t sell as well as the two main models and will probably be more expensive than them, so it will be a rarer sight on the street. If Porsche retains the motor show study’s high ground clearance, then it could also prove quite good off-road, although it will probably ride lower in production form.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Porsche Taycan.

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo Concept.

Read our full review on the 2015 Porsche Mission E Concept.