BEV feels similar to an ICE vehicle
Porsche Taycan Turbo S
The Taycan has undergone various improvements in its 2024 facelift, including not only interior and exterior updates, but also a 35% increase in range, improved acceleration performance, a “Push-to-Pass” system that can boost the car by 70kW for 10 seconds, and active air suspension as standard equipment. Of these, the one that left the biggest impression on me was the Taycan Turbo S, which I drove at Porsche Experience Tokyo.
Of course, the system’s maximum output of 952 PS and the 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.4 seconds, which is 0.4 seconds faster than the previous model, are nothing short of phenomenal, but what surprised me even more was how refined and natural the drivability has become. When it was first released, the Taycan, especially the Turbo S, had a feeling of acceleration and accelerator response that was too sharp, and I personally felt that it was too much, but the new Turbo S has less of that “electric car feel” and has a very natural feeling that is closer to that of an ICE car.
What’s more, the newly equipped active air suspension and rear-axle steering are excellent, maintaining a flat ride that’s hard to believe is a four-door saloon with a total length of 4,962 mm and a wheelbase of 2,900 mm, while also cornering sharply and providing a comfortable ride! If you have a negative impression of the Taycan Turbo S like I did, I urge you to try it again. That’s how much the new model has improved in every way!
There’s no “backyard builder feel”
Lotus Emira
Since its release, I’ve actually had very little chance to drive the Lotus Emira. Finally, I got to drive the V6 with a 6-speed automatic transmission. When it comes to the Emira, most people tend to focus on the AMG Mercedes M139 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder DOHC turbo engine, but personally, the Emira V6 is almost the same as the Evora in terms of dimensions and the Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V6 DOHC supercharger it’s equipped with, so I was curious to see just how much it has evolved. The latest Evora was so well-made that I was very curious.
So, to cut to the chase, this car is better made than I expected! Of course, at 1,458 kg it’s 33 kg heavier than the Evora 400, and the engine power is almost the same, so there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about performance in terms of 0-100 km/acceleration or top speed. However, the overall build quality, precision, sound insulation and rigidity of the car have been improved, and there’s none of the “backyard builder” feel that was slightly present in the Evora. I was surprised at how well-made it turned out to be, a high-quality sports car with a solid feel.
And yet, the handling, which gives you a sense of unity with the car, is unmistakably Lotus. The 6-speed automatic transmission and V6 are a perfect match, and the car has the depth to be both a sports car and a GT. The Emira V6 is a car that we highly recommend, not only for its 6-speed automatic transmission, but also for the fact that it can be chosen with a 3-pedal 6-speed manual transmission, which is rare these days!
Agile driving that gives a sense of unity between the driver and the vehicle
Maserati GranTurismo
It’s not that this car didn’t attract attention, but rather that I drove it but never had the opportunity to write about its merits anywhere: the Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo. At first, I only thought of it as a facelifted version of the previous model (sorry), but the balance between the powertrain consisting of a 550 PS 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo Nettuno engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission and the full-time 4WD chassis is exquisite, allowing you to enjoy an agile and one-to-one driving experience that is hard to imagine from the old-fashioned GT style of its long nose and short deck!
What’s even more surprising is that it achieves such driving performance while still being a 2+2 GT that can comfortably seat two adults in the rear seats. How on earth can a car with such a magnificent body length of 4959mm be both a GT and a pure sports car? I have no idea, but the Maserati GranTurismo is a Super GT that has managed to do just that!
