1,092-HP Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Revealed, Sets EV Lap Record At Laguna Seca

We’ve known that Porsche was working on a high-performance Taycan for a while now — I mean, it already set a Nürburging record for electric sedans. Now the covers have been taken off the 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, and it’s even more of a track monster than we expected. With Lars Kern at the wheel, the same driver who set the recent ’Ring time, a Taycan Turbo GT lapped Laguna Seca in 1:27.87, quicker not only than any other production EV but also the 1:28.21 time set by Randy Pobst in a time attack–style Tesla Model S Plaid.

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Even more impressive? That Laguna Seca time is less than three tenths of a second off the previous production car lap record set by McLaren Senna, which was also piloted by Randy Pobst during MotorTrend testing (that record is now a 1:25.44 set by a Czinger 21C). It’s a couple seconds quicker than previous records set by a Porsche 991 GT2 RS and 918 Spyder, too, and three seconds quicker than the GT4 race car record set by a Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. And as a memory refresher, the Taycan Turbo GT’s ‘Ring record of 7:07:55 was faster than any other four-door car; 18 seconds quicker than the stock Model S Plaid’s time, 26 seconds quicker than the previous Taycan Turbo S, and just two seconds off the Rimac Nevera’s overall EV record.

Ready for takeoff. The Taycan Turbo GT sets a record at Laguna Seca Raceway

So, what sets the Turbo GT apart from a regular Taycan? Somewhat surprisingly it’s still just a dual-motor setup like other Taycans. The motor at the rear axle is new and more powerful, as is the pulse inverter that controls it. The new inverters have a 900-amp maximum current, 300 amps up from the one in a Turbo S, and more efficient silicon carbide as the semiconductor material. Porsche also improved “the robustness of the gearbox” and tweaked the two-speed transmission’s ratios.

The Taycan Turbo GT normally puts out 777 horsepower, an appealing number to my smooth brain that’s only 13 hp more than a 2025 Taycan Turbo S. But with launch control active the Turbo GT is boosted up to 1,019 horses versus the Turbo S’ 938 hp, and there’s a new Attack Mode that brings the Turbo GT’s total output up to 1,019 horsepower. Maximum torque is 988 pound-feet, an increase of 170 lb-ft over the Turbo S.

Attack Mode is inspired by the 99X race car that Porsche fields in Formula E, and it’s basically an evolution of the push-to-pass Sport Response button in other Porsches. Press a button on the steering wheel to activate Attack Mode, which gives you a boost of as much as 160 hp for up to 10 seconds. It’s visualized by animated speedo rings and a countdown timer in the gauge cluster.

Photo: Porsche

Porsche says the Turbo GT will sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 2.2 seconds, or 2.1 seconds with the Weissach package equipped. Yup, there’s a Weissach pack on an EV — more on that in a sec. That’s a tick quicker than the Taycan Turbo S’ 2.3-second run, and a few tenths off the Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire, which will hit 60 mph in 1.99 seconds and 1.89 seconds, respectively. The Turbo GT takes 6.6 seconds to hit 124 mph, or 6.4 seconds for the Weissach, which is 1.3 seconds quicker than the Turbo S.

Every Taycan Turbo GT has a new version of Porsche’s PCCB carbon-ceramic brakes, which are more than four pounds lighter than the old brakes and get Victory Gold calipers, and a more performance-focused version of the Active Ride suspension that debuted on the 2024 Panamera. The Turbo GT also has 21-inch forged wheels with relief-milled spokes that Porsche says both improve brake cooling and save weight. Standard on the Turbo GT are Pirelli P Zero R tires with a model-specific compound, while also Porsche-specific Pirelli Trofeo RS rubber is available.

Photo: Porsche

Further differentiating the Turbo GT visually are carbon-fiber exterior accents, a new front splitter with unique aeroblades, a deeper diffuser also with new aeroblades, and an active rear spoiler with a Gurney flap edge. Instead of the grey Turbonite finish that Porsche’s new Turbo models get, the Turbo GT has the colored Porsche crest on the hood and wheels, while the rear logo is painted in matte black. New colors Pale Blue Metallic and Purple Sky Metallic will be exclusive to the Turbo GT for the first year, meaning buyers of other models can’t choose it through the Paint to Sample program, another first for Porsche. Turbo GT exterior decals are available in Volt Blue, or matte or gloss black.

Despite being a five-figure option on Porsche’s other GT cars, the Taycan Turbo GT’s Weissach package is a no-cost option that saves up to 157 pounds, raises the top speed from 180 mph to 190 mph, and improves the car’s aerodynamics. A large fixed rear wing replaces the active spoiler, and the Weissach pack also adds a different front diffuser and underbody air deflectors. Porsche says total downforce is up to 485 pounds.

Photo: Porsche

Carbon-fiber b-pillar trim, side mirror caps, side skirts and other parts help reduce weight with the Weissach package. There’s a lightweight luggage compartment, less insulation, no more power trunk, and the floor mats, trunk mats, and Sport Chrono pack’s analog clock are chucked out. Weissach cars also only have a charging port on the passenger side. A Sound Package Plus gets read of the rear speakers, too.

The biggest change with the Weissach package is that it deletes the Taycan’s rear seat, replacing it with “a tailor-made, high-quality lightweight carbon fiber cladding with a storage compartment.” That means the Turbo GT is the first time Porsche has offered a four-door model with a rear-seat delete, and it’s in extremely limited company — the only other recent examples I can think of are the Toyota GR Corolla and Jaguar XE SV Project 8. Otherwise the interior isn’t too different. As standard the Turbo GT comes with 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats Plus, with black leather and Race-Tex upholstery, but Porsche’s bucket seats are available. GT Silver or Volt Blue accents are available, including for the 12 o’clock marking on the steering wheel, and there are some Turbo GT badges and embroidery throughout.

Photo: Porsche

Including the $1,995 destination fee, the 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT will start at $231,995 when it reaches dealers in the U.S. this summer — just $21,000 more than a 2025 Taycan Turbo S with no options, and $18,505 cheaper than the Lucid Air Sapphire. That seems like a bargain to me, especially when you consider it’ll lap a track not only faster than most gas-powered supercars and nearly every EV, but also legitimate race cars.

There are still some big things we don’t know about the Taycan Turbo GT, mainly range, charging speeds, and how much consistent lapping the car can do before needing to cool down or recharge. For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which set a Nürburging lap time of 7:45.59, can only do two laps of the Nordschleife in its Endurance mode or one lap in Sprint. When the Turbo GT’s record was set back in January, Porsche said Kern was able to do “several laps” with consistent times, though no specific details have been given. Still, the Taycan Turbo GT seems like it could be the most track-capable EV on sale, and for it to be a four-door sedan is awesome.