James Kon & Adib Noor
Porsche Brunei, represented by official importer and dealer QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd, debuted the latest variant of the first fully-electric Porsche, the highly anticipated Taycan Cross Turismo.
QAF Eurokars General Manager Lahiru de Silva officially unveiled the first cross utility vehicle (CUV) from Porsche during a media event at Porsche Centre Brunei in Beribi on Tuesday.
The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is an all electric sports car with off-road versatility, and an innovative 800-volt technology designed for fast charging and plentiful range.
The latest Taycan variant features impressive spaciousness and practical flexibility, complementing the already popular Taycan model range.
One of its key features is its all new high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension, ensuring uncompromising dynamics, both on and off-road. The variant offers 36 millimetres more headroom for rear-seat passengers and more than 1,200 litres of load capacity (with rear setbacks folded down), loaded through the large tailgate at the rear, making the Cross Turismo a true all-rounder.
What clearly sets the Taycan Cross Turismo apart is that the electric vehicle sits 20mm higher compared to its Taycan saloon counterpart, and it comes with the optional Offroad Design Package with ground clearance further increased by up to 30mm. This allows it to be driven on challenging off-road terrains, which is even more optimised in the ‘gravel’ driving mode, exclusive to the Cross Turismo.
The exclusive feature manages torque distribution through traction-optimised shifting and other chassis settings, increasing the suitability of the Taycan Cross Turismo on poor-quality roads.
Other off-road design elements of the vehicle include wheel arch trims, unique front and rear lower aprons and side sills.
The Cross Turismo has special flaps at the corners of the front and rear bumpers and at the end of the sills, as part of the optional Offload Design package. The elements do not only result in a striking exterior, but also provides protection from stone impact.
Meanwhile, QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd, the leading car dealer to offer electric vehicles and charging infrastructures, launched the fully electric sports car Porsche Taycan during the grand opening of the new Porsche Centre Brunei in April this year.
The Porsche Taycan that comes in four variants, the flagship Taycan Turbo S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan 4S, and the new entry-level Taycan received encouraging response from the Brunei market, proving Bruneians are recognising the importance of green technology of electric vehicles.
De Silva told a media gathering on Tuesday that this year has been quite a journey.
“The journey was not an easy one, but definitely a remarkable one. Despite challenging circumstances, we proved our resilience, and the resilience of Porsche, achieving a 40 per cent jump in year-on-year sales, with approximately 20 per cent of our sales coming from electrified Porsche models.
“As we welcome the new year, our endeavour continues to be a brand driven by pioneering spirit, powered by innovation – and we look forward to continue keeping the dream of the sports car alive,” de Silva said.
After a hiatus from event-hosting due to COVID-19-related partial-movement restrictions in Brunei Darussalam, the company also held a small gathering at Porsche Centre Brunei to reaffirm ties with the media.
Twenty guests from media organisations were present along with QAF Eurokars staff and management.
The Taycan Cross Turismo will be available for viewing at Porsche Centre Brunei in the coming weeks. Interested parties can schedule an individual appointment at https://bit.ly/PTaycanCT.
