News
Porsche releases Taycan 4S: Price, performance, battery options, and more
Just over a month after launching the first two variants of the Taycan, Porsche has announced another version of its flagship all-electric sports car, the dual-motor Taycan 4S. Priced below the Taycan Turbo, the midrange variant of the electric sports car could very well hit the sweet spot for buyers who prefer to have the full Porsche experience without spending over $150,000.
Here’s a quick look at the Porsche Taycan 4S’s details.
Design and Battery Sizes
A look at the Taycan 4S shows that the vehicle is just as stunning as the Turbo and Turbo S variant that preceded it. The Taycan 4S’ dimensions are identical to the vehicle’s top two versions, though its wheels are a touch smaller at 19″ compared to the Turbo’s 20″ and the Turbo S’ 21″ wheels. The 4S is also equipped with red six-piston fixed-calipers on the front axle and four-piston calipers on the rear axle with internally vented cast-iron brake rotors.
The Taycan 4S will be released with two available battery sizes: the standard Performance battery that delivers up to 522 hp (390 kW) and the Performance Battery Plus that up to 563 hp (420 kW). The Performance Battery has a capacity of 79.2 kWh as standard, while the Performance Battery Plus features the same 93.4 kW battery that is fitted on the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S.
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-->Performance, Charging, and Interior
Yet despite the differing battery sizes, Porsche notes that the Taycan 4S will have a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. The top speed of the vehicle is listed at 155 mph. US EPA range estimates for the Taycan 4S are yet to be announced.
Under ideal conditions, the Porsche Taycan 4S could charge from 5% to 80% state of charge can occur in as little as 22.5 minutes for both the Performance and Performance Plus battery, at least when the vehicle is plugged into an 800-volt high-speed DC charging station. The maximum charging capacity (peak) is 225 kW for the Performance Battery or 270 kW for the Performance Battery Plus.
Being part of the Taycan family, the 4S is available with multiple interior options, though Porsche underscores the company’s use of recycled materials for the vehicle. A partial leather interior comes standard with the midrange all-electric car.
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
-
- The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
The Porsche Taycan 4S. (Credit: Porsche AG)
Price
In a way, the Porsche Taycan 4S could very well be the bang-for-your-buck version of the German automaker’s flagship electric sports car line. Apart from having the same battery size as the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S, the 4S is also equipped with the same Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PSM) as the vehicle’s top two trims.
-->Granted, the vehicle’s maximum power stands at 563 hp with launch control compared to the Taycan Turbo’s 670 hp and the Turbo S’ 750 hp with launch control, but the vehicle is also priced significantly less. The Taycan 4S with Performance Battery starts at $103,800 ($106,410 at launch), while the 4S with Performance Battery Plus starts at $110,380 ($112,990 at launch).
That’s around $40,000-$46,000 less than the Taycan Turbo, which starts at $150,900 ($153,510 at launch), and over $74,000-$80,000 less than the Taycan Turbo S, which starts at $185,000 ($187,610 at launch).
Here’s a full comparison of Porsche’s current lineup for its flagship electric car.
Porsche Taycan Technical Spec Sheet by Simon Alvarez on Scribd
-->
News
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise for its smoother performance and smarter decision-making.
Videos and firsthand accounts from Tesla owners highlight V14.2.1 as an update that improves navigation responsiveness, sign recognition, and overall fluidity, among other things. Some drivers have even described it as “more alive than ever,” hinting at the system eventually feeling “sentient,” as Elon Musk has predicted.
FSD V14.2.1 first impressions
Early adopters are buzzing about how V14.2.1 feels less intrusive while staying vigilant. In a post shared on X, Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic described the update as a “huge leap forward,” adding that the system remains “incredibly assertive but still safe.”
Another Tesla driver, Devin Olsenn, who logged ~600 km on V14.2.1, reported no safety disengagements, with the car feeling “more alive than ever.” The Tesla owner noted that his wife now defaults to using FSD V14, as the system is already very smooth and refined.
Adverse weather and regulatory zones are testing grounds where V14.2.1 shines, at least according to testers in snow areas. Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt shared a video of his first snowy drive on unplowed rural roads in New Hampshire, where FSD did great and erred on the side of caution. As per Merritt, FSD V14.2.1 was “extra cautious” but it performed well overall.
-->Sign recognition and freeway prowess
Sign recognition also seemed to show improvements with FSD V14.2.1. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted a clip from his upcoming first-impressions video, showcasing improved school zone behavior. “I think it read the signs better,” he observed, though in standard mode, it didn’t fully drop to 15 mph within the short timeframe. This nuance points to V14.2.1’s growing awareness of temporal rules, a step toward fewer false positives in dynamic environments.
FSD V14.2.1 also seems to excel in high-stress highway scenarios. Fellow FSD tester @BLKMDL3 posted a video of FSD V14.2.1 managing a multi-lane freeway closure due to a police chase-related accident. “Perfectly handles all lanes of the freeway merging into one,” the Tesla owner noted in his post on X.
FSD V14.2.1 was released on Thanksgiving, much to the pleasant surprise of Tesla owners. The update’s release notes are almost identical to the system’s previous iteration, save for one line item read, “Camera visibility can lead to increased attention monitoring sensitivity.”
News
Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
Tesla has kicked off passenger ride-alongs for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Italy, France and Germany. The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
The program, detailed on Tesla’s event pages, arrives ahead of a potential early 2026 Dutch regulatory approval that could unlock a potential EU-wide rollout for FSD.
Hands-Off Demos
Tesla’s ride-along invites participants to “ride along in the passenger seat to experience how it handles real-world traffic & the most stressful parts of daily driving, making the roads safer for all,” as per the company’s announcement on X through its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account.
Sign-ups via localized pages offer free slots through December, with Tesla teams piloting vehicles through city streets, roundabouts and highways.
“Be one of the first to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from the passenger seat. Our team will take you along as a passenger and show you how Full Self-Driving (Supervised) works under real-world road conditions,” Tesla wrote. “Discover how it reacts to live traffic and masters the most stressful parts of driving to make the roads safer for you and others. Come join us to learn how we are moving closer to a fully autonomous future.”
-->Building trust towards an FSD Unsupervised rollout
Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) ride-alongs could be an effective tool to build trust and get regular car buyers and commuters used to the idea of vehicles driving themselves. By seating riders shotgun, Tesla could provide participants with a front row seat to the bleeding edge of consumer-grade driverless systems.
FSD (Supervised) has already been rolled out to several countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and partially in China. So far, FSD (Supervised) has been received positively by drivers, as it really makes driving tasks and long trips significantly easier and more pleasant.
FSD is a key safety feature as well, which became all too evident when a Tesla driving on FSD was hit by what seemed to be a meteorite in Australia. The vehicle moved safely despite the impact, though the same would likely not be true had the car been driven manually.
News
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Two years into their postal blockade, Swedish unions are outraged that Tesla is still able to provide its customers’ vehicles with valid plates through various clever workarounds.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia called it “embarrassing” that the world’s largest EV maker, owned by CEO Elon Musk, refuses to simply roll over and accept the unions’ demands.
Unions shocked Tesla won’t just roll over and surrender
The postal unions’ blockade began in November 2023 when Seko and IF Metall-linked unions stopped all mail to Tesla sites to force a collective agreement. License plates for Tesla vehicles instantly became the perfect pressure point, as noted in a Dagens Arbete report.
Tesla responded by implementing initiatives to work around the blockades. A recent investigation from Arbetet revealed that Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences, including one employee’s parents’ house in Trångsund and a customer-relations staffer’s home in Vårby, as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia is not pleased that Tesla Sweden is working around the unions’ efforts yet again. “It is embarrassing that one of the world’s largest car companies, owned by one of the world’s richest people, has sunk this low,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, it is completely frivolous that such a large company conducts business in this way.”
-->Two years on and plates are still being received
The Swedish Transport Agency has confirmed Tesla is still using several different workarounds to overcome the unions’ blockades.
As noted by DA, Tesla Sweden previously used different addresses to receive its license plates. At one point, the electric vehicle maker used addresses for car care shops. Tesla Sweden reportedly used this strategy in Östermalm in Stockholm, as well as in Norrköping and Gothenburg.
Another strategy that Tesla Sweden reportedly implemented involved replacement plates being ordered by private individuals when vehicles change hands from Tesla to car buyers. There have also been cases where the police have reportedly issued temporary plates to Tesla vehicles.
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
