The New Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Sets World Record for the Greatest Altitude Change in an EV to the Summit of Pikes Peak

author: Manish Kharinta   

2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb's class winner Dai Yoshihara receives the award from a Guinness World Records official.

Out of all of the legacy automakers around the globe, sports car manufacturer Porsche is probably the only brand that also managed to establish itself as a pioneering force in the EV space with its new Taycan sedan and Cross Turismo shooting brake. The Stuttgart-based automaker also doesn't shy away from setting new performance benchmarks for the industry. 

The new fully-electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo recently set a Guinness World Record for an electric vehicle by achieving the greatest altitude change ever. 

The 3.1-mile vertical trip began on Sept 28 in an underground mine in Michigan and ended on Sept. 29 at the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, said Porsche spokesman Calvin Kim.

The team set the new benchmark for an EV by covering a vertical distance of around three miles all the way to the summit of Pikes Peak. Even more impressive is that the Cross Turismo model used for this attempt was entirely stock with zero modifications. The summit of Pikes Peak is 14,115 feet above sea level. 

The team used sealed GPS devices to monitor their progress, altitude and location along the route.

The Taycan Cross Turismo was successfully able to cover the 1,413 mile journey from upper Michigan, which was quite a daunting undertaking. The battery-powered wagon started its challenging journey 1,774 feet below sea level at the Eagle Mine in Michigan.

Only specialized mining vehicles usually cover the depths of Eagle Mine, but the all-wheel-drive system of the Taycan Cross Turismo allowed it to tackle the challenging terrain of the nickel mine to kick off the record winning trip to Colorado. After racing against the clock for almost 34 hours, the EV crossed the finish line at the summit of Pikes Peak.

Automotive film and TV producer and director J.F. Musial and his team helped document the Guinness World record attempt to the summit of Pikes Peak. Musial and his team took exactly 33 hours and 48 minutes to reach the summit, which included stops for charging the battery.

From start to finish, Musial and his team drove the new Cross Turismo across six states from Michigan. On the journey, the team also braved a significant snowstorm. By the time they reached the summit almost three miles high, the oxygen level had dropped some 60% compared to at sea level.

2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb's class winner Dai Yoshihara got into the driving seat of the Taycan Cross Turismo for the final assault on the legendary track.

The Taycan Cross Turismo's electric-only drivetrain produces 469 HP of maximum power and 368 lb-ft of peak torque. The electric wagon comes with a 83.7 kWh battery pack, which is good for around 227 miles of range. The Taycan Cross Turismo can accelerate to 60 mph from a complete standstill in 4.5 seconds. 

This is not the first time that Porsche Taycan has set a world record. In addition to the title for the fastest indoor speed achieved, the Taycan sedan version also holds the record for the longest drift in an electric vehicle. 

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.