The Taycan Cross Turismo set the record for greatest altitude change at 5,573.979 metres
With electric vehicles (EVs) becoming more popular, many of them are breaking records all over and now the Porsche Taycan has secured a new Guinness World Record after completing an extreme, 2,783km journey that saw it go from the lowest natural point in China to the top of one of the world’s highest national highways.
The 10-day challenge began at Ayding Lake, at an altitude of -218.845 metres, and ended with the successful summiting of Hongtu Daban, at 5,355.134 metres above sea level, effectively securing the record for greatest altitude change for an EV with the final number at 5,5739.979 metres.
Moreover, the Xinjiang-Tibet route features desolate regions that challenge the very limits of survival, with extreme weather combining with complex and changing terrain and road conditions.
With many predictable and also unpredictable risks along the way, this spectacular road trip fully demonstrated the off-road capabilities, long-distance comfort and reliability of the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. The charging efficiency of the Porsche 800 V architecture also proved itself in the most punishing conditions.
More than just an extreme challenge, one of the aims of the epic electric adventure was to inspire drivers to think about “better road trips,” more immersive experiences, more untamed wildness, more memories and zero-emission-driving.
What’s more, it was also an opportunity to show how the possibilities for sustainable travel and sports car ownership will be amplified as the world moves to an ever more electrified and sustainable future.
The record-breaking altitude change of 5,573.979 metres brought with it dramatic changes in temperature, air pressure, geological conditions and other surprises from the natural world. Thanks to their terrific adaptability, the two Taycan Cross Turismo sports cars that set out on the journey were able to meet each challenge head-on.
On top of that, from surface temperatures of 70°C to frozen, icy roads and from busy cities to a 5,000-metre-high no-man’s land, this unforgettable trip provided the team with one unique experience after another.
In the Kunlun and Tianshan mountains is a 760km stretch of no-man’s land, which the cars crossed in four days, powered by the smart energy management system EnjoyElec, a start-up in which Porsche Ventures has strategically invested.
As well as encountering sudden rain and unexpected snow, the cars tackled four consecutive peaks with an altitude of more than 4,900 metres. But even in such tough conditions, the intelligent thermal management system ensured the optimum operating temperature of the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo remained extremely efficient.
