Legal trouble is circling Porsche in the United States, but this time, the controversy isn’t about its cars. The German automaker is under scrutiny over claims that its home charging units fail to deliver the charging speeds owners were promised.

The lawsuit, recently filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, takes issue with the Porsche Mobile Charger Plus and Porsche Mobile Charger Connect devices.

The Devices in Question

Both of these chargers are available to Porsche owners and allow for easy home charging. When plugged into an outlet providing at least 40 amps, they can charge a car’s battery in between 9.5 and 10.5 hours.

However, the new filing alleges that these units tend to overheat, potentially damaging outlets and creating a fire risk. It also claims that charging times can be nearly double what the company advertises, leaving owners waiting far longer than expected to hit a full charge.

Read: Porsche Settles Leaky Sunroof Lawsuit, But Some Owners Get A Better Deal Than Others

This isn’t Porsche’s first encounter with charger-related complaints. In 2023, the company faced a similar lawsuit over allegedly defective home chargers. To address that case, Porsche agreed to reimburse customers and introduced an updated unit featuring a temperature sensor. But the latest legal filing argues that these steps were cosmetic, not corrective.

“After the original complaint was filed in this case, PCNA offered reimbursement for third-party chargers and, most recently, replacement devices that merely add a temperature sensor,” the lawsuit states.

“These steps did not solve the underlying problem: charging times far longer than advertised, before and after the Charger Restriction, limiting consumers’ ability to use their vehicles when needed and as advertised.”

It has also been claimed in the new lawsuit that Porsche has long known about the problem, but has failed to address it and has not issued a “recall, repair, replacement, or other program.”

Plaintiffs Paul Herdtner of Kansas, owner of a 2020 Taycan 4S, and John Holby of Illinois, who owns a 2021 Taycan Turbo, are leading the case.

Sources: CarComplaints

When it comes to lap records at the Nürburgring, few manufacturers approach the challenge with Porsche’s level of obsession. The German automaker not only owns the outright record of 5:19.546 with the blisteringly quick 919 Hybrid Evo, but it also holds three of the eight fastest production car laps ever run on the circuit. So when Xiaomi came along earlier this year and swiped the EV record, it was only going to be a matter of time before Porsche fired back.

Read: Xiaomi Shatters Its Nurburgring Record Again And Immediately Launches Limited Edition

This is our first look at what seems to be that response to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, which set a lap time of 7:04.957, edging out the Taycan Turbo GT’s 7:07.55. Reportedly dubbed the Taycan Turbo GT4 RS, this hyper EV was originally thought to be a project from Manthey Racing, but now, it’s believed to be a fully-fledged Porsche model.

Aggressive New Aero

The differences between these two prototypes, and the existing Taycan Turbo GT, are stark. Porsche has fitted a new front end with a larger splitter, canards, and 911 GT3 RS-inspired louvers on the front quarter panels.

There’s also new underbody aero, dedicated aero discs on the rear wheels, and a large fixed rear wing. Additionally, the arches have been flared, and there’s a new rear diffuser. Look closely, and you’ll notice the prototypes also have just a single seat for the driver and a full roll cage.

Our spy photographers report that both cars recently hit the ‘Ring for flying laps, with one piloted by Porsche factory driver Lars Kern. At one stage during the lap, the blue car’s rear diffuser was badly damaged, and while the purple car lapped faster on the same day, it’s understood the balance was not optimal. As such, it’s likely that Porsche will quickly head back to the circuit to go record chasing once again.

Baldauf

Aiming for Xiaomi

What remains uncertain is whether Porsche is only targeting the road-going SU7 Ultra or also setting its sights on the more extreme SU7 Ultra Prototype. That car recently lapped the track in 6:22.091, the second-fastest time ever for an EV, only behind the VW ID.R.

The aero appendages of the Taycan Turbo GT4 RS aren’t quite as dramatic as those of the SU7 Ultra, but they’re much more significant than those of the SU7 road car.

In addition to the new aero, Porsche engineers are believed to be pushing the Taycan’s powertrain past the 1,019 horsepower of the regular Taycan Turbo GT, or the 1,092 horses it can deliver with launch control engaged. If true, it should give the Taycan Turbo GT4 RS the firepower it needs to reclaim Nürburgring bragging rights.

Baldauf