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Porsche Taycan interior space seems closer to a Tesla Model 3 than a Model S

(Credit: ThomasGeigerCar/YouTube)

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A walkthrough video featuring one of Porsche’s Taycan prototypes has provided an idea about the interior space of the German automaker’s highly-anticipated all-electric sedan. While still camouflaged, it was quite evident that in terms of interior space, the Taycan appears to be closer to the Tesla Model 3 than the Model S.

Auto YouTuber and Porsche enthusiast ThomasGeigerCar was able to get a close look at a camouflaged Taycan prototype. Similar to other reviewers who have interacted with the vehicle, Thomas was impressed with the Taycan’s driving capabilities, which is specifically being designed by the company to be just as compelling as their other iconic creations like the legendary 911. The reviewer also added that in terms of size, the Taycan is expected to be a bit smaller than the Panamera, Porsche’s premier four-seater. 

A good part of the review involved a look at the interior space of the upcoming all-electric vehicle. Based on footage taken inside the Taycan’s camouflaged interior, it seems like there is ample space for passengers in front, though similar to other vehicles in the company’s lineup, seating appears to be quite low. The back seats of the Taycan appear to be another story, as they seem to be quite cramped. Headroom at the back seats seems adequate at best as well. 

It should be noted that the Taycan prototype that was featured in the review is a camouflaged unit, which means that several aspects of the vehicle could still change in its production version. The roof of the production Taycan would likely not be as simple as the prototype’s, for example, and this could result in improvements for the rear seats’ headroom. Nevertheless, it is still evident that the overall space at the Taycan prototype’s rear seems notably smaller than that of the Tesla Model S, a vehicle that is being considered as its main competition. 

The Porsche Taycan has spent several years in development, and during that time, it has been framed as a vehicle that can challenge the Model S, which has been making waves in the large premium sedan market. Considering that Porsche already has the Panamera, it is understandable that the company is making the Taycan more compact than its own large four-seater. Unfortunately, this strategy would likely make the Taycan’s interior space closer to the Tesla Model 3, which is more affordable. 

Yet, despite the Taycan’s rear not being as spacious as the Tesla Model S, the vehicle would likely play a big role in the electrification of Porsche’s lineup of vehicles. The automaker, after all, is not a mass-market brand, which means that the Taycan, instead of attracting customers away from a Model S or Model 3, will likely attract potential car buyers from the internal combustion engine. And for a company like Porsche which has already sworn off diesel, the Taycan’s characteristics, from its driving dynamics to its interior, could very well be part of a long-term plan. 

Watch ThomasGeigerCar‘s review of the Porsche Taycan’s interior in the video below. 

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Elon Musk teases Tesla Roadster unveiling once again

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tesla roadster
Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk continues to tease the unveiling event for the Tesla Roadster, a continuing trend that has grown into a bigger game of “When” for fans who have been waiting years for the car to finally enter production.

A video shared on X of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that Musk appeared on last year, teasing the Roadster unveiling, was shared once again on the social media platform. The poster said the Roadster event will be “unforgettable.”

Musk agreed:

The timing is interesting because just yesterday, Musk said that we will be getting flying cars, and for years, Tesla has hinted that it could develop a SpaceX cold gas thruster package that would help the car float or fly for a short period of time.

It would be reasonable to assume Tesla’s major delays with this unveiling event are likely caused by the company’s need to break the rules and push the envelope on nearly everything. Last July, Lars Moravy, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, said:

“Roadster is definitely in development. We did talk about it last Sunday night. We are gearing up for a super cool demo. It’s going to be mind blowing. We showed Elon some cool demos last week of the tech we’ve been working on and he got a little excited.”

The latest updates that Tesla has given us are that the Roadster is in design development, and it did have several potential dates for an unveiling event this year, including April. It was then pushed to August.

However, there are no clues as to when Tesla will be ready, and fans are certainly getting frustrated with the delays.

For what it is worth, Franz von Holzhausen told Jay Leno this week that the event would be “very soon.”

We sure hope.

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Tesla’s driverless Cybercab just passed a big test with State Governor

Florida’s governor rode Tesla’s Cybercab at a closed test track and called the experience impressive.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis rode in a Tesla Cybercab on a closed test track this week and came away impressed, posting on X that the vehicle “successfully navigated all hazards — a kid running into the street, a crash with police stopping traffic, a Model S cutting us off, etc.” He called the ride “impressive.”

The stop was part of a broader event Monday at SunTrax, a 775 acre state owned proving ground in Auburndale that Florida built specifically to test autonomous and connected vehicles before they reach public roads. Standing next to a gold Cybercab, DeSantis described the car in plain terms: “You go in there and you just sit. You have a screen. There’s no steering wheel, no pedals. Clearly these things could be very beneficial.”

DeSantis paired the praise with a caveat that has followed autonomous vehicles since the category existed. “You don’t want to be in an autonomous vehicle and it drives you into a ditch. That would not be good,” he said, framing safety validation as the gate before wider deployment.

SunTrax, the 2.25 mile oval which the state calls the only high speed autonomous vehicle test track in the Southeast, can simulate rain, pedestrian crossings, hills and crowded urban conditions at highway speeds, letting companies push a car past what an early public rollout would risk. Tesla, Waymo and Beep all use the facility, and Florida’s regulatory approach, among the most permissive for autonomous vehicles in the country, doesn’t require a human operator inside a fully autonomous car.

Tesla has reason to want the blessing of Florida and states beyond, as the Cybercab entered volume production at Gigafactory Texas this spring and has since self certified as SAE Level 4 under Texas law. Public road testing so far has kept a safety monitor in the passenger seat, and Florida is where Tesla has been expanding its existing Model Y based Robotaxi service instead, adding Miami in July and then Orlando and Tampa two weeks later. A closed track endorsement from a sitting governor doesn’t change any of that, but it does put Tesla’s newest hardware in front of a state that has already shown it will move fast on rules.

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Tesla wins three-year standoff against Sweden’s IF Metall union

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Credit: Tesla Europe and Middle East | X

Sweden’s IF Metall union has announced that it is ending all protests against Tesla, effective immediately.

The union said in a statement this morning:

“There seems to be no limits to the length Tesla would go to keep unions out of their operations. Unfortunately, they have managed to pay their way out in Sweden. At least that has given the former IF Metall members more money in their pocket, but the insecurity of not having a union or a collective agreement still remains.”

IF Metall has been after Tesla in Sweden for the past three years, attempting to push unionized operations into its factories. Tesla, on the other hand, has given its employees the chance to unionize in various markets. However, the organization says that Tesla has “bought out all of its striking members.”

“Today, we end our industrial action against Tesla. We do so because it can no longer have an effect – not because our principles have changed,” a written statement said.

Over the past three years, IF Metall has definitely been a thorn in the side of Tesla and its operations in Sweden. The primary strike started in October 2023, when IF Metall members at Tesla’s Swedish Service Centers refused to work.

IF Metall chair to Elon Musk: “Give us a chance” as Tesla Sweden strike hits 2 years

Strikes extended to blockades and work stoppages at non-Tesla-owned repair shops that service Teslas. This limited and stopped anything related to warranties, transport damage, and other work on Teslas ending, eliminating work arounds for customers.

Sympathy strikes followed, as postal workers, dock workers, electricians, and other tradesmen stopped working. Add in lawsuits and other pressures, and you get the full scope of what strategies the union has used against Tesla over the past several years.

But now, it’s all over.

“We will continue to defend the right of workers to organize. We will continue to fight for collective bargaining. And we will continue to stand in solidarity with workers and trade unions facing similar challenges elsewhere – just as you have stood with us,” IF Metall said.

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