Drivers of tweaked Porsche Taycan can now shift gears manually

In architecture, a folly is an extravagant building constructed to entertain and excite its owner – but is also one that doesn't really serve a particular purpose. And you might argue there are parallels between that and an electric car with virtual gear changes, because you don’t need them, but they can be an awful lot of fun.

Step forward the Porsche Taycan, which is now available with a virtual gearchange system as an option across the range, similar to the system fitted to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Drivers can shift through gears using a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddles, which adjusts the motors’ power delivery to subtly jerk as it would if it had a conventional automatic gearbox.

The E-Shift option meters out power to simulate the way a petrol-powered model accelerates through the gears, and there’s a virtual rev counter with shift light to provide the driver visual feedback. Completing the package is a “reinterpreted Porsche Electric Sport Sound” system which emits sound internally and externally depending on how the car is driven.

It’s available on all versions of the Taycan, including the Sport Turismo and Cross Turismo, and comes as standard on the Turbo GT version.

While the E-Shift option aims to improve driver involvement, new summer tyres are available for entry-level rear-wheel drive Taycan models. The ‘low-rolling resistance’ tyres require less effort to turn, which boosts the Taycan’s range from 421 to 434 miles.

The Taycan also gains the slick new infotainment system as fitted to the Porsche Cayenne Electric and Macan Electric. It’s significantly more powerful than before and has a sharp, crisp appearance.

The interface is based around a 3D rendering of the car – which uses the car’s specific paint colour - through which the driver can control the car’s key functions. Other highlights include configurable widgets, similar to those of a smartphone, and additional apps can be downloaded.

We’ve tried the system in the Cayenne Electric and Cayenne Coupé Electric and found it responsive and clear, although a little too menu-heavy.

The 2027 Porsche Taycan is expected to cost a little more than before, with a starting price of around £90,000. It is available to order now, with deliveries expected in the Summer.

Read more: Best electric cars

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here