Porsche has fired back in the battle for electric vehicle supremacy on the track. After a Chinese-made rival briefly claimed the production EV sedan lap record at Germany’s legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, the German automaker unleashed the 2027 Taycan Turbo GT equipped with a track-focused Manthey Racing package that demolished the competition and reset expectations for what high-performance battery-powered cars can achieve.
The Challenge and the Response
The gauntlet was thrown when a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra toppled the standard Taycan Turbo GT Weissach from the top of the production EV leaderboard around the infamous 12.9-mile circuit. Rather than accept defeat, Porsche partnered with Manthey Racing to create an upgraded variant that would prove the Taycan’s potential. The result was a 6:55.553-second lap time, approximately 12 seconds faster than the lesser sibling and a dramatic jump even compared to how much Manthey kits have improved other Porsche models like the 911 GT3 and Cayman GT4 RS.
What Makes the Manthey Kit Stand Out
The foundation begins with the base Taycan Turbo GT Weissach, a $246,050 all-wheel-drive machine that accelerates to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and delivers an EPA-rated 276 miles of range. The optional Manthey upgrade, priced at $125,510, transforms this sedan into something radically different. The package includes an oversized adjustable rear wing, expanded front splitter and rear diffuser, revamped underbody aerodynamics, and track-specific Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires wrapped around 21-inch wheels that are 1.9 inches wider than standard. These changes increase downforce at 124 mph from 209 to 683 pounds, reaching 1,631 pounds at the car’s 192-mph top speed.
Beyond aerodynamics, the Manthey treatment adds a new 1,300-amp pulse inverter that boosts maximum torque to 936 pound-feet and raises baseline power output from 777 to 804 horsepower. Attack mode delivers 978 horses in 10-second bursts. The package also includes wider bodywork and revised rear-axle steering, making the car 80.6 inches wide overall, which still qualifies as street-legal despite its extreme width, similar to the Ford Mustang GTD.
How It Performs on the Track
Behind the wheel, the Manthey-enhanced Taycan revealed a sophistication that separates it from its standard sibling. During testing at the Nordschleife, the standard Taycan Turbo GT proved manageable but occasionally unpredictable, with the rear becoming squirrly at high speeds and brake feel weakening over extended runs. The Manthey variant, by contrast, felt absolutely composed lap after lap. Its wider stance, stiffer suspension tuning, and enhanced downforce created a confidence-inspiring platform that allowed drivers to engage the Attack mode boost more aggressively and brake deeper into corners.
Porsche engineered the Taycan to deliver full power for an entire Nordschleife lap without degradation, and testing confirmed no apparent power loss across four to six laps on a full charge of the 97-kWh battery. The car’s new driver-selectable E-Shift feature, which mimics traditional transmission shifts audibly, added immersion and helped establish a better sense of speed through corner sequences. Just as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N brings high-performance capability to the EV market, the Manthey Taycan demonstrates that electric vehicles can deliver dynamic driving experiences on demanding circuits.
What This Means for Buyers
The fully loaded 2027 Taycan Turbo GT Weissach with Manthey Racing components carries a starting price near $400,000 when both upgrades are combined. This is unquestionably an exclusive product, reduced to just two seats due to the Weissach deletion of the rear row, and realistically suited only for buyers with access to track-based charging infrastructure and a genuine passion for extreme performance driving. While more mainstream EV options like the redesigned compact SUV segment continue expanding, the Manthey Taycan exists in a rarefied category of its own.
What makes this package particularly noteworthy is that it arrives fully assembled from the factory, unlike many other Manthey kits that function as retrofit or dealer add-ons. Porsche acknowledges the upgrade is somewhat experimental for Manthey-enhanced vehicles, but the dramatic improvement in lap times and handling balance suggests the company is considering applying similar treatments to additional models. The EV segment continues to push boundaries with performance-focused designs, and the Taycan Manthey represents one of the most ambitious efforts yet to merge track capability with battery power.
For shoppers evaluating high-performance EVs, the Taycan Manthey proves that electric powertrains can rival and surpass combustion-engined competitors in demanding environments. However, realistic buyers seeking practical electric vehicles will find better value elsewhere. The Manthey kit appeals to a tiny subset of enthusiasts willing to invest heavily in the ultimate expression of Porsche’s EV ambitions.
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