Porsche is preparing to debut the first fully electric Cayenne, and while the official premiere is scheduled for the end of 2025, the prototype has already made a record on one of the oldest motorsport hills in the UK - Shelsley Walsh, which has been in use since 1905.
The short but technically complex 914-meter track with an average incline of 16.7% was completed by the electric crossover in 31.28 seconds while wearing factory camouflage. Thus, the Cayenne beat the previous record among production SUVs (35.53 seconds) by more than 4 seconds, which was set by the Bentley Bentayga.
Porsche Cayenne Electric
Behind the wheel was Gabriela Jílková - test pilot of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. The start was particularly impressive: covering the first 60 yards (18.3 m) took only 1.94 seconds - a performance typical of Formula cars on slicks, while the Cayenne had regular road summer tires.
Porsche has not yet revealed the specifications of the electric Cayenne, but thanks to a recent video with former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, several interesting features have come to light:
- The electric crossover is equipped with an Active Ride air suspension, similar to that used in the Taycan, but not in the electric Macan, with which the Cayenne shares the PPE platform;
- In Track EV mode, a sound reminiscent of a V8 engine is produced;
- It is expected that the power will exceed 730 hp - this value is the output of the most powerful gasoline Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid.
Porsche also stated that the towing capacity of the Cayenne Electric will reach 3,500 kg - the same as the gasoline Cayenne and Rivian R1S. To emphasize this, Hammond towed a retro model Lagonda with the electric car and noted that the torque of the electric motors allows for easy ascents even with heavy loads.
Source: Porsche
