2027 Porsche Taycan Introduces E-Shift System With Virtual Gears

Porsche just proved that going electric doesn’t mean you have to give up the visceral driving experience that makes sports cars so enjoyable. The newly updated 2027 Porsche Taycan is packed with features that will make even the most stubborn internal combustion diehards do a double take.

E-Shift: The Feature That Changes Everything

The headline addition to the 2027 Porsche Taycan is E-Shift, and if you’ve been skeptical about EVs feeling emotionally flat behind the wheel, this is Porsche’s answer to that criticism. The system introduces virtual gear changes with an actual perceptible shift motion, a reinterpreted Electric Sport Sound, and a virtual rev counter with a gear indicator and shift light in the instrument cluster. Together, they create a multi-sensory driving experience that engages your sight, sound, and feel all at once.

In manual mode, drivers can row through eight simulated gears using paddles on the GT Sport steering wheel. Each virtual gear change comes with gear-specific drag torque (essentially mimicking the engine braking behavior you would feel in a gas-powered car) plus a virtual rev limiter to keep things feeling authentic. The sound tuning is unique to each Taycan variant, so your GTS won’t sound like a base Taycan.

“By introducing comprehensive innovations for the model year change, we are strengthening the Taycan in all relevant areas: the latest models offer more emotive driving experience and more intuitive and customizable operation,” says Kevin Giek, Head of the Taycan model line.

E-Shift is optional across all Taycan powertrains and body styles, but if you’re buying a Taycan Turbo GT, you’re getting it standard. It’s activated via a dedicated mode switch on the steering wheel and can also be fully deactivated if you want to go back to the traditional EV experience.

Bigger Battery Now Standard Across the Board

Porsche is no longer making customers pay extra for the good stuff. For 2027, the Performance Battery Plus (105 kWh) is now standard equipment on the Taycan, Taycan 4, and Taycan 4S.

That’s the larger pack that supports a max charge rate of 320 kW on compatible 800-volt DC fast chargers. A new battery state of health display is also included, so you can keep tabs on your pack’s long-term condition.

NACS Charging Finally Comes To Taycan

Charging convenience just got a MAJOR upgrade. 2027 Taycan models (not including Taycan Turbo GT w/ Weissach Package) will now feature a NACS (North American Charging Standard) DC fast charging port on the passenger-side fender, so owners can use Tesla’s Supercharger network natively without needing an adapter.

The driver-side fender retains the J1772 AC port for Level 2 home and public charging. A CCS adapter will also be included for backward compatibility.

The Manthey Kit: For The Truly Obsessed

If you’re picking up a Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach Package, Porsche is also offering an optional Manthey Kit, which includes aerodynamic changes, a revised wheel and tire package, larger front brakes, and updated suspension and powertrain tuning.

To prove that it works, a Taycan equipped with the Manthey Kit recently set a production EV lap record at the Nürburgring with a blistering time of 6:55.553 minutes!

New Infotainment That Actually Makes Sense

The interior gets a significant tech refresh with the new Porsche Digital Interaction (Porsche DI) system, which is already in the Macan Electric and Cayenne Electric. The new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) hardware delivers up to five times more computing power than before, which means faster response times and smoother menu navigation.

Highlights include freely configurable widgets, a 3D model of your specific car in your actual color that you can rotate on screen, and an App Center where you can download third-party apps (think audio streaming, parking, and charging) directly to the system. Navigation now features precise online routing, 3D building displays, and an optimized Charging Planner.

The AI-powered Voice Pilot takes hands-free control to a new level, supporting natural conversation, follow-up questions without needing to repeat “Hey Porsche,” and even voice-activated opening of the charging flap. You can also download infotainment updates entirely over the air (OTA). And if your phone runs out of juice, the new magnetic smartphone tray charges at up to 25 watts – about 1.5 times faster than before.

New Colors, New Personality

Porsche has refreshed its Paint to Sample catalog with 16 new colors, bringing the total to 153 options. Notable additions include returning fan favorites Shark Blue and Python Green, along with new options like Loretta Purple and Rose Red.

With that many choices, your Taycan will be anything but generic in the parking lot.

Pricing And Availability

Pricing for the 2027 Taycan model range starts at $111,900 for the rear-wheel drive Taycan, plus a $2,350 delivery, processing, and handling fee, and orders can be placed now.

For a car that now includes the bigger battery as standard and adds E-Shift as an option, that’s a pretty compelling package for anyone who wants an EV that still feels like a true Porsche.