Porsche Cayenne to Soon Get EV Powertrain

The mid-size Porsche Cayenne SUV is set to join the smaller Macan in offering an electric powertrain, and Porsche chose a hill climb in England for the upcoming electric vehicle’s first public appearance. The Cayenne Electric’s accomplishment at the Shelsley Walsh event provides some titillating glimpses of the EV’s performance potential.

Related: 2024 Porsche Macan EV Up Close: Undercover EV

Production Preview

With the Cayenne Electric’s launch still months away, production calibrations of the powertrain and optional Porsche Active Ride adaptive air suspension fitted to the prototype entered in the hill climb are ongoing. But Michael Schatzle, vice president of the Product Line Cayenne, said, “the drive power and equipment of the record-breaking car were already at production level.” That leads us to believe that output close to the 938 horsepower of the Taycan Turbo S — if not the Turbo GT’s 1,019 hp — will be available.

Like the Macan, the Cayenne will continue to be available with a traditional internal combustion powertrain — as well as, in the latter’s case, a plug-in hybrid system. Schatzle promised that Porsche will continue to build gas-burning Cayennes “well into the next decade,” but noted, “we can only achieve the level of performance publicly demonstrated for the first time in England through the potential of electrification.”

At the other end of that performance envelope is a more typical use for SUVs: towing. Porsche says the Cayenne EV will be capable of tugging the same 7,716 pounds as the gas-powered SUV.

Big Gains Over a Short Distance

American readers may be little interested in hill climbing, a short point-to-point racing format that sees competitors tackle steep uphill runs on public roads one at a time. But with Porsche Formula E development driver Gabriela Jilkova at the wheel, the electric Cayenne smashed the event’s SUV record, previously held by a W-12 Bentley Bentayga, by more than four seconds. Shelsley Walsh stretches approximately 3,000 feet, making Jilkova’s 31.28-second pass that much more remarkable.

Were the Cayenne Electric able to sustain that pace without needing to stop for charging, tire changes and nature calling, it would cover the 2,780 miles of the race-winning 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona car 5 hours, 46 minutes faster than the Bentayga that previously held the Shelsley Walsh record. And the Cayenne, wearing production summer tires, cleared the climb’s first timing marker at just 60 yards from the start line in just 1.94 seconds. That’s a time usually only matched by single-seat formula cars on racing slicks.

Readers who happen to be in England can see the Porsche Cayenne Electric at the Goodwood Festival of Speed July 10-13, though it’ll still be camouflaged. Porsche will likely give us our first look at the undisguised electric SUV later in the year.

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