I may be considered a bit young to be a fan of cult classis movies and music from the hot rod age, but I will admit I am a fan nontheless. Listening to the Beach Boys "little deuce coupe" or "409" in the back of our two-tone Econoline van on the way to go-karting weekends in the 1980s with my father certainly drove my passion for automobiles. As I accelerated in age and had my first car (a Volkswagen mind you) the idea of cruising the high school parking lot like Danny searching for my Sandy wasn't exactly a reality. That being said, my passion for everything fueled by octane and combustion was engrained and on I went down the path to Automotive Stardom. Ok let's not exaggerate. But I did get to have some fun.

I ended up spending a few years behind the wheel of the most manic and agile Le Mans Prototype (LMP) race cars the world had to offer in the IMSA/American Le Mans Series. I even earned some championships along the way. But having children changes your perspective so I took on a new challenge. My own Automotive Motorsport Business. After almost 18 years of building weekend race cars for discerning enthusiasts I now find myself at the helm of the Porsche brand at Autohaus Lancaster. What stands before me is a changing of the guard…… Electric Vehicles. Porsche's EV arrived last year in the form of the stunning new Taycan. Would Danny and Sandy approve? That I cannot answer. What I can say is that Porsche has managed to deliver a visceral driving experience even in the absence of spent exhaust fumes and the howl of a flat six engine. I would encourage everyone to experience this new platform first-hand. Since Covid-19 has put a damper on the typical "showroom" experience I will take a shot at sharing the experience in my own words.

As you enter the "cockpit" of this striking new 4 door design you find something familiar. This feels like a 911. You sit low to the ground with an expansive view out of the front glass. The front fender arches bulging into view is an amazing touch to remind you that you are in something special. On to the all-too-familiar left side key……which isn't there. After the repetitive explanation to first time Porsche driver's of "do you know why the key is on the left?" I am now reserved to pushing a button. This is a bit different. The high-definition displays (yes there are multiple) come to life in what I can only pretend is powering up a flying car. And then you hear it. Nothing. No sounds. An eerie calm and quiet while knowing this Taycan Turbo is one of the fastest production cars ever produced- let alone in electric format. Reaching to the dash I flip the mode selector down into drive and off I go. Things really get strange….Now I start to hear….. Nothing. Only a slight whine from the audible exterior sound produced to let those standing or walking on the side of the road hear you coming. As impatience and curiosity strike, I am forced (by my own lack of self-control) to turn the chrono knob on the steering wheel to Sport Plus (+). Things suddenly get interesting. A sound emanates from inside the cabin. It sounds mechanical- It sounds electric. It sounds cool! Little do I realize that the ride height has lowered for improved aerodynamics and performance as the Taycan is now in its most aggressive mode. Just as I arrive at a stop sign out of sight and hopefully out of mind of any law enforcement officer that has an affinity for ticketing motorists, after-all aren't there Covid restrictions to be enforced and bad people out there. I am not one of those people. I am simply curious about this electronic 4-wheel anomaly I am driving.

I have read about this and have experienced it in other Porsche Sports Cars. Launch Control. Yes, that option that always seems incredible to perform followed up by a thought of "was that really good for the car?" I have to see what it feels like in this 5000 plus pound battery hauler. Left foot goes on the brake. Right foot to the floor on the gas- I am prompted by a "Launch Control " active on the cluster. I immediately release my left foot's pressure on the brake pedal and relinquish myself to the forces and sensations that can only be associated with a modern-day electric rollercoaster. Full Tilt Boogie!! The ferocity with which the Taycan applies its mind-bending torque through all 4 wheels and rockets from a stop is other worldly. It's unexplainable even to the best of my abilities. I get a rush…. I get some tunnel vision. I have driven 1650 lbs. race cars with over 650 horsepower. They were fast. This is simple seamless brutality. I am the passenger in a rubber band sling shot. It doesn't lose any of the gut-wrenching acceleration as the speeds increase. Not until well into the triple digits where I gingerly settle into a constant pace. That's when I realize the amount of distance I have covered and the lack of time it has taken to do so. As the grin on my face starts to subside slightly, I recognize something I've never felt before in any road going machine. Compliance. A word we used to describe with our race engineers when trying to achieve the ability for a vehicle to handle with precision yet absorb and collect the undulations and irregularities that road surfaces provide (Pennsylvania roads definitely have their share of those). Compliance was something that we always tried to achieve, and you made minute changes to the suspension adjustments and tire pressures to get there. Sometimes you could never achieve true "compliance." Porsche has done it. The most impressive trait about the Taycan is it's inherent and unwavering compliance. With the batteries in the base of the floor underneath the cabin the balance of the chassis is simply incredible. It rides….. flat. It rides….. firm….. It rides…. Perfectly compliant. It is unbelievable. This is the moment where I realize that I am in something I would truly find special and new each and every time I turn they key. Sorry each and every time I push the power button. It's quiet, it's surreal, it's powerful, it's striking, it's electric (insert: boogie- woogie- woogie). The question of "range" always comes into play. It should as it obviously dictates how much fun I can have and for how long. Then again fuel capacity does the same and when behind the wheel of any of our vehicles displaying the Porsche crest I tend to find ways to burn through petrol pretty quick. This is a different type of range and efficiency. Even with my best efforts to swallow up the road with judicious use of the throttle (is it a throttle pedal really?) I am surprised that I am achieving range numbers well above what the EPA had published for the Taycan. That story is very much the same across our dealer network and from our clients who have purchased them. And like those clients who always have a unique Taycan story to share- I want to own one as well. Most of our client's don't own them at all. Most are on a 3 year performance test drive- a lease. The ultimate "drive it and enjoy it then drop it off for another" experience. This is made even more enticing with the additional $7500 tax credit Porsche receives for the delivery of each one- and applying it against your payments. I spend many days discussing my clients needs and suggesting the most advantageous ownership experience possible. Many times that is leasing. I am trying to talk myself out of the most surreal and mind warping driving experience I've ever had the pleasure of having. Now is not the time for me. Life's other priorities are taking over… saving for retirement… kids getting ready for college. Every day I stare at the Taycan in the showroom and think…. Surely Danny and Sandy would approve of this modern-day hot rod…. At the dealership I have officially dubbed the Taycan the "Leased Lightning."

A note from Chad: I hope you enjoyed this fun little write-up of this new technological marvel. There is so much more to share. I encourage you to visit with us to experience it yourself. Stay safe during these interesting times and Happy Motoring.