Exclusive: testing the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo in extreme weather conditions


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The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

Give me a Porsche with 849Nm of torque and 671bhp driving through all four wheels, modify it for a bit of off-road action – with raised ground clearances, underbody protection and fat guard extensions Dakar-style – and point me towards an empty desert.

In a corner of Liwa, I thrashed through the sand in the final test mule of Porsche’s new Taycan Cross Turismo, but with one glaring difference compared to the V8 American pick-ups and turbocharged Japanese SUVs that normally dotted the stretch. Being a Taycan, means this Porsche is an EV and it’s made for serious performance off-roading of the electric variety.

A test of extremes: from the Arctic to the desert 

The National is the first media outlet in the Mena region to get behind the wheel of the all-new Cross Turismo, as part of a global test programme pitting the prototype Taycan against the most extreme conditions, from the cold in the Arctic Circle the heat of the UAE desert.

Two test tracks were constructed, one in the dunes of Liwa and the other on a frozen lake north of the Arctic Circle. The same Cross Turismo was tested on an identical layout in -32°C in Levi, Finland, before being flown to Abu Dhabi where it was put to the same test in 45°C just days later.

Battery technology continues to evolve, but exposure to extreme temperatures can expose vulnerabilities, as batteries can lose up to two-thirds of their life in extreme heat or sub-zero climes.

As temperatures nudged past 40°C, my brief with the Cross Turismo was to push it hard, get the car moving and sliding and tackle the sand “with enthusiasm”. The battery temp remained stable all day and while the range depleted faster compared to driving responsibly on a sealed road, the consumption variation was on par to a regular combustion engine when treated the same way.

Plenty of power inside the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Based on the 2018 Mission E-Cross Turismo concept, it uses the same 800-volt architecture from the Taycan saloon with power coming via an electric motor mounted in each axle to make it an all-wheel drive.

Aside from giving the driver more feeling on acceleration and braking, it maximises range while still achieving 3.3 seconds from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour

Porsche says its range of up to 456km and the Turbo’s 250kph top speed is the same as the saloon when used under the same highway conditions despite carrying an extra 105 kilograms and wearing more durable tyres better suited to off-roading in place of the slimline fuel-savers normally reserved for EVs.

The Cross Turismo offers 30 millimetres more ground clearance and rather than being a heavy-duty off-roader, it’s pitched as a more appropriate alternative for accessing remote beach tracks, farm driveways and slippery mountain passes than the regular model.

It also debuts Taycan’s wagon body with a longer roof that’s similar in style to the Porsche Panamera Grand Turismo, incorporating a massive panoramic glass roof that extends behind the rear seats. It offers 47mm more rear headroom and three times more stowage when the rear seats are folded flat. All up, there’s 1,255 litres of stowage when you combine the 1,171 litres in the rear with the 84 litres hiding under its nose.

Tailor-made for drifting action

Despite the raised height, the Taycan’s centre of gravity remains lower than a conventional car, so add endless torque to the mix and the Cross Turismo is tailor-made for some wildly addictive sandy drift action.

There’s no aggression needed to initiate a slide. Gently squeezing the throttle is enough to quickly induce wheelspin from its rear-drive bias without needing to tug at the wheel to shift its balance. Once it’s dancing, it’s a simple matter of holding a slide with your fingertips, using the torque rather than its weight to change direction, tickling the throttle instead of wheel work to move it around as the car remains flat the entire time.

EVs require a different method to hustle, but ultimately it’s easier and with less drama as the car doesn’t pitch, so therefore doesn’t dig in when it finds a rut, rather it ploughs through it like it wasn’t there.

Added to Porsche’s familiar drive modes of Normal, Sport and Sport Plus is a Gravel mode that does all the behind-the-scenes work with the torque delivery to the various wheels. It winds back the Taycan's stability control systems and equalises the speed of each wheel in the same way a diff lock would on a regular SUV.

It also lifts the suspension by 10mm as an added precaution, although that extra height also comes with the optional off-road design package fitted to our test car, which comprises off-road design flaps on the lower valance, side skirts and a rear diffuser.

Taycan received more than 50 international awards last year, so while purists still lust for performance coupes such as the 911 and Cayman, which thankfully are not disappearing anytime soon, a third of all Porsches sold in Europe last year were powered by an electric or hybrid drivetrain.

Porsche says this will increase to half of all cars sold by 2025, pointing to the Taycan and other variants such as the Cross Turismo quickly becoming the company's mainstream models.

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Day 1 results:

Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)

Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20ASI%20(formerly%20DigestAI)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Quddus%20Pativada%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20education%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243%20million-plus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GSV%20Ventures%2C%20Character%2C%20Mark%20Cuban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
  4. Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
  5. Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now