Porsche’s battery-powered lineup is growing—officially.
The German marque has finally confirmed what has long been suspected: the fourth-generation Cayenne will go electric. The gas and hybrid versions of the popular SUV aren’t going anywhere, though. They’ll be available for the foreseeable future.
The announcement states that the next-generation Cayenne will be built on the company’s new 800-volt Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which is also utilised by the new Macan Electric. It makes clear that the mid-size SUV, which was the company’s best-selling model as recently as 2022, will be available with three powertrains worldwide “up to and beyond 2030.” Porsche’s wording suggests that the ICE models will be upgraded versions of the third-generation Cayenne, while the fourth generation will solely be available with an all-electric powertrain.
Image courtesy of Porsche
“The flexibility of the PPE architecture allows us to integrate the latest technology in the fields of high-voltage systems, powertrain, and chassis. We are going to utilise the potential of electrification to take the Cayenne to a completely new level in a number of ways—for instance, in driving performance.”
Details surrounding the SUV remain scarce, but there is a general sense that it will be more powerful than the Macan Electric, the most potent version of which makes 630 hp and 833 ft lbs of torque. That SUV, the Turbo Electric, is the most powerful Macan currently on offer, so it wouldn’t be a total surprise if the battery-powered Cayenne produces more grunt than the Turbo E-Hybrid variant, which makes 729 hp, can sprint from zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 183 mph. That kind of grunt and performance should help allay concerns about whether or not an EV qualifies as a true Porsche (though the Taycan has already provided ample proof).
Confirmation of the electric Cayenne comes at a time when Porsche, along with several other automakers, is starting to question its electrification strategy. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the company had “watered” down its aim for 80 per cent of the cars and SUVs it sells to be EVs by 2030. The brand is not opposed to this target, it admitted to the news wire that the EV transition was taking longer than expected, and it would only now reach that goal if customer demand warranted it.
