- All-new Cayenne Electric in two models, including a 'Turbo'.
- Up to 1500Nm and 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds.
- Combustion Cayenne will continue 'well into the next decade'.
Porsche has revealed its most powerful road car - and it's a luxurious family SUV.
The Cayenne Electric has been teased extensively over the past few months, but now Porsche has revealed the finished product and revealed pricing for New Zealand, which starts at $215,000.
Cayenne Electric was born out of Porsche's original plan to have a mostly plug-in portfolio by 2030. Like so many carmakers it's slowed that trajectory, and combustion-engined Cayennes (from $184,200 in NZ) will now continue alongside the new model.
"We will continue to develop the Cayenne with efficient combustion and hybrid drive systems well into the next decade," says Matthias Becker, member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing. "This strategy also applies to Porsche's entire model portfolio: in every segment in which we are represented, customers will in future have the choice between fully electric and combustion-engined powertrains."
The Cayenne Electric is built on the Volkswagen Group's premium platform electric (PPE) architecture, as per the Macan Electric, Audi Q6/SQ6 e-tron and A6/S6 e-tron. It comes initially in Cayenne Electric and Cayenne Turbo Electric models, both with all-wheel drive equipped with electronic Porsche Traction Management (ePTM).
New battery, energy inspired by Formula E
It uses a newly developed 113kWh high-voltage battery, with double-sided cooling. The combined WLTP range is 642km for the Cayenne Electric and 623 km for the Turbo.
Thanks to 800-volt technology, the Cayenne is capable of charging at up to 390kW – and under certain conditions even up to 400kW.
The entry-level Cayenne Electric has 300kW in normal operation and 325kW/835 Nm of torque with Launch Control activated. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
In normal driving mode, the Turbo Electric makes up to 630kW is available. The Push-to-Pass function liberates an additional 130kW for 10 seconds. However, the drive system can also summon up to 850kW/1500rpm when Launch Control is activated, with 0-100km/h acceleration of just 2.5 seconds.
The Turbo features direct oil cooling of the electric motor on the rear axle to ensure high continuous output and efficiency, an innovation carried over from motorsport.
Porsche also says the new model "offers leading energy recovery figures, achieving Formula E levels with up to 600 kW of recuperative power". In everyday life, about 97% of all braking operations can be handled purely by the electric motors, with no need for the mechanical brakes to intervene.
New chassis technology for Cayenne Electric
Adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is standard on both models. The Turbo also features the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) limited-slip rear differential.
Both models can be equipped with rear-axle steering, which steers the rear wheels by up to five degrees. In addition, Porsche Active Ride is also available for the flagship model for the first time; it's claimed to "almost completely compensate for body movements and ensures exceptional stability, dynamics and comfort."
"The new Cayenne is unmistakably Porsche and unmistakably Cayenne," says says Michael Mauer, head of Style Porsche. "We've built on proven design features and preserved what makes this SUV unique. The result is a modern design concept that carries the Cayenne into the future."
Thanks to a drag coefficient of 0.25, the Cayenne Electric is claimed to be one of the most aerodynamic SUVs in its class. The Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) system adapts the car’s aerodynamic properties to the respective driving situation and speed.
The active aerodynamic elements include movable cooling air flaps in the nose, an adaptive roof spoiler and active aeroblades at the rear of the Turbo. They extend the lateral tear-off edges and improve the flow characteristics, which leads to an increase in range, especially at higher speeds. Other aerodynamic measures include air curtains in the front bodywork, an almost completely enclosed underbody, special aero wheels and a diffuser at the rear.
Sizing up Cayenne Electric
The Cayenne Electric is 55mm longer than the combustion-engined model: 4985mm total, 1980mm wide and 1674mm. The difference is greatest in the wheelbase (3023mm), where an increase of almost 130mm creates more rear legroom. The rear seat is electrically adjustable as standard and offers flexible adjustment options from a comfort position to a cargo-optimised.
Luggage capacity is 781-1588 litres, plus the 90l frunk. It's rated to tow u to 3.5 tonnes towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, "equipment-dependent".
Mood Modes feature in the cabin. Depending on the selected programme, the seating position, lighting mood, air conditioning, sound profile and the display appearance change.
New panel heating not only warms the seats, but also large areas of contact surface such as armrests and door panels. Extended ambient lighting includes a communication light – an animated light strip that welcomes passengers as they enter the car and visualises various vehicle states, such as the charging process.
Making Cayenne Electric personal
Customers can choose from 13 standard colours, nine wheel designs from 20-22 inches, 12 interior combinations as well as up to five interior packages and up to five accent packages.
Through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, the extended exterior colour range of Paint to Sample and the Sonderwunsch programme, customers can also individualise their Cayenne according to their personal wishes, from individual options all the way up to a complete one-off.
Porsche Design's programme of custom-built timepieces has been expanded to include the SUV model range. This means that Cayenne customers can now also order a watch from Porsche's own Swiss watch manufacturer that is tailored to their vehicle down to the last detail.
Inside, the newly developed Porsche Driver Experience features the Flow Display – a curved OLED panel that blends into the centre console and allows separation between the display and control areas.
There's a fully digital instrument cluster with 14.25-inch OLED technology and a 14.9in optional passenger display. Together, the result is the largest display area ever found in a Porsche.
For the first time in the Cayenne, a head-up display with AR technology is also available, which visually represents an 87in display area 10 metres in front of the vehicle.
NZ pricing for the Porsche Cayenne Electric
The all-electric Cayenne models are available to order now in NZ, although first arrivals are not expected until early in the third quarter of next year.
The Cayenne Electric is $215,000, while the Turbo Electric starts at $295,000.