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Porsche Taycan to get ‘Turbo S’ variant with special 700 hp+ ‘overboost’ feature
It appears that Porsche might be preparing something special for Taycan reservation holders. While it has previously been hinted that the German carmaker will be revealing three versions of the vehicle — the base Taycan, the Taycan 4S, and the Taycan Turbo — recent reviews from select auto publications are suggesting that Porsche is set to include a fourth variant on its upcoming unveiling: the Taycan Turbo S.
The Porsche Taycan is based on the Mission E sedan concept, which was unveiled in 2015 to critical acclaim. The Mission E featured over 600 hp from its twin electric motors, allowing it to achieve a 0-60 mph time of less than 3.5 seconds. The Mission E sedan’s specs appear to be the closest to the Porsche Taycan Turbo, which is speculated to have a starting price of $130,000 before options.
In a recent review of the Taycan, motoring publication Autocar noted that both the Turbo and the Turbo S variant will have standard power outputs that are substantially over 600 bhp, and both will have an “overboost” function for 2.5 seconds at a time. The two top-tier Taycan variants’ overboost will have some differences, as the Turbo S’ overboost will raise the vehicle’s output to well over 700 bhp, with over 750 lb-ft of torque.
The result of this is a 0-60 mph time that is well below the 3-second mark. This makes the Taycan Turbo S acceleration very close to the roller-coaster-like launch of a Tesla Model S Performance, which has a 0-60 mph time of 2.4 seconds. Considering that the Taycan has been extensively tested in the Nurburgring, the Turbo S version of the vehicle will likely be a formidable car on the track.
Apart from the vehicle’s performance, the motoring publication also revealed some standard equipment that will be equipped on the Taycan Turbo S. The magazine notes that the Turbo S will be equipped with ceramic brakes, a stiffer set-up, standard four-wheel steering, 21″ wheels and high-performance tires.
The Porsche Taycan is set to be unveiled next week on September 4, 2019 at 9 a.m. EST. The vehicle will be launched at three locations: one in Canada, one in Germany, and another in China. Pricing for the base Taycan, which will reportedly be equipped with a single motor and an 80 kWh battery pack, is expected to be in the low ~$90,000 range. The mid-range Taycan 4S, speculated to be priced at the high ~$90,000 range, is estimated to be fitted with two electric motors and a 96 kWh battery pack.
The two top variants of the Taycan are expected to command a notably higher price, with the Turbo version starting at $130,000 before options. Pricing for the Turbo S is yet to be announced, though considering that the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo commands a ~$190,000 price, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Taycan’s fastest iteration ends up being priced closer to the next-gen Tesla Roadster than the Model S.
Elon Musk
SpaceX secures win as US labor board drops oversight case
The NLRB confirmed that it no longer has jurisdiction over SpaceX.
SpaceX scored a legal victory after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided to dismiss a case which accused the company of terminating engineers who were involved in an open letter against founder Elon Musk.
The NLRB confirmed that it no longer has jurisdiction over SpaceX. The update was initially shared by Bloomberg News, which cited a letter about the matter it reportedly reviewed.
In a letter to the former employees’ lawyers, the labor board stated that the affected employees were under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board (NMB), not the NLRB. As a result, the labor board stated that it was dismissing the case.
As per Danielle Pierce, a regional director of the agency, “the National Labor Relations Board lacks jurisdiction over the Employer and, therefore, I am dismissing your charge.”
The NMB typically oversees airlines and railroads. The NLRB, on the other hand, covers most private-sector employers, as well as manufacturers such as Boeing.
The former SpaceX engineers have argued that the private space company did not belong under the NMB’s jurisdiction because SpaceX only offers services to “hand-picked customers.”
In an opinion, however, the NMB stated that SpaceX was under its jurisdiction because “space transport includes air travel” to get to outer space. The mediation board also noted that anyone can contact SpaceX to secure its services.
SpaceX had previously challenged the NLRB’s authority in court, arguing that the agency’s structure was unconstitutional. Jennifer Abruzzo, the NLRB general counsel under former United States President Joe Biden, rejected SpaceX’s claims. Following Abruzzo’s termination under the Trump administration, however, SpaceX asked the labor board to reconsider its arguments.
SpaceX is not the only company that has challenged the constitutionality of the NLRB. Since SpaceX filed its legal challenge against the agency in 2024, other high-profile companies have followed suit. These include Amazon, which has filed similar cases that are now pending.
News
Tesla accuses IG Metall member of secretly recording Giga Berlin meeting
The union has denied the electric vehicle maker’s allegations.
Police seized the computer of an IG Metall member at Tesla Giga Berlin on Tuesday amid allegations that a works council meeting was secretly recorded.
The union has denied the electric vehicle maker’s allegations.
In a post on X, Gigafactory Berlin plant manager André Thierig stated that an external union representative from IG Metall attended a works council meeting and allegedly recorded the session. Thierig described the event as “truly beyond words.”
“What has happened today at Giga Berlin is truly beyond words! An external union representative from IG Metall attended a works council meeting. For unknown reasons he recorded the internal meeting and was caught in action! We obviously called police and filed a criminal complaint!” Thierig wrote in his post on X.
Police later confirmed to local news outlet rbb24 that officers did seize a computer belonging to an IG Metall member at the Giga Berlin site on Tuesday afternoon. Tesla stated that employees had contacted authorities after discovering the alleged recording.
IG Metall denied Tesla’s accusations, arguing that its representative did not record the meeting. The union alleged that Tesla’s claim was simply a tactic ahead of upcoming works council elections.
The next works council election at Giga Berlin is scheduled for March 2 to 4, 2026. The facility’s management had confirmed the dates to local news outlets. The official announcement marks the start of the election process and campaign period.
Approximately 11,000 employees are eligible to participate in the vote.
The previous works council election at the plant took place in 2024, and it was triggered by a notable increase in workforce size. Under German labor law, regular works council elections must be held every four years between March 1 and May 31.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI plants flag in Bellevue AI hotspot
The lease places xAI’s new office in one of the region’s fastest-growing tech hubs.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has leased a full floor at Lincoln Square South in downtown Bellevue, WA, as per city permit filings.
The lease places xAI’s new office in one of the region’s fastest-growing tech hubs.
Public records indicate that xAI leased roughly 24,800 square feet in Lincoln Square South. The location was previously occupied by video game company Epic Games. Lincoln Square South is part of the Bellevue Collection, which is owned by Kemper Development Co.
The lease was first referenced in January by commercial real estate firm Broderick Group, which noted that an unnamed tenant had secured the space, as stated in a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal. Later filings identified xAI as the occupant for the space.
xAI has not publicly commented on the lease.
xAI hinted at plans to open an office in the Seattle area back in September, when the startup posted job openings with salaries ranging from $180,000 to $440,000. At the time, the company had narrowed its location search to cities on the Eastside but had not finalized a lease.
xAI’s Bellevue expansion comes as Musk continues consolidating his businesses. Last week, SpaceX acquired xAI in a deal that valued the artificial intelligence startup at $250 billion. SpaceX itself is now valued at roughly $1.25 trillion and is expected to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.
Musk already has a significant presence in the region through SpaceX, which employs about 2,000 workers locally. That initiative, however, is focused largely on Starlink satellite development.
Bellevue has increasingly become a center for artificial intelligence companies. OpenAI has expanded its local office footprint to nearly 300,000 square feet. Data infrastructure firms such as Crusoe and CoreWeave have also established offices downtown.
SpaceX secures win as US labor board drops oversight case
Tesla accuses IG Metall member of secretly recording Giga Berlin meeting
