Porsche may launch a smaller, more affordable electric sedan

According to a recent report,Porsche's electrification strategy could lead to a battery-powered sedan sitting below the Taycan.If approved for production, the company's entry-level electric car could directly target the BMW i4.

British magazine Autocar has learned that the sedan is under consideration, and it will bePorsche's seventh model.It hasn't been approved for production, so details like its horsepower and mileage haven't been finalized, according to insiders.However, if it gets the proverbial green light, it will be built on the Advanced Platform Electric (PPE) architecture co-developed byPorscheand sister company Audi to support a range of electric vehicles.

The all-electric second-generation Macan will also ride on the PPE platform and will share much of the drivetrain technology with its sedan sibling.Autocar believes that single-motor rear-wheel drive will be standard, while dual-motor all-wheel drive will be available for an extra fee or standard on premium models.It's an approach that makes sense: that's how Porsche markets the Taycan and most gasoline-powered cars in its range.

Performance defines Porsche's DNA, so instead of a sedan, the rumored sedan will reportedly feature a suitably stylish fastback roofline.For example, its silhouette will be closer to the Panamera than the Rolls-Royce Ghost.According to Autocar, the sedan will be similar in size to Audi's next-generation electric A4; if that's accurate, it'll take Porsche into a segment it's never seen before.We wouldn't underestimate the possibility that it will be bigger and more expensive in the A6 space without creating internal competition for the Taycan.

In any case, the starting price is said to be around £50,000, which is around $70,900 at current exchange rates.For context, the 718 Boxster starts at 47,090 pounds (about $66,800).It's priced at $62,600, so it's not unreasonable to set the base price of the sub-Taycan sedan in the $65,000 range.Porsche's most affordable Taycan sedan costs $79,900.

Porsche has yet to comment on the report or publicly reveal how (or even if) its product portfolio will grow in the 2020s.If the sedan is approved by the board, it won't arrive until 2022 at the earliest, when the PPE-based car is scheduled to go into production.In addition to the new Macan, the platform will underpin the next-generation A6 due in 2024, as well as a crossover called the Q6 E-Tron due in 2022.