Porsche Cayenne Electric sets records before sales start
Porsche is preparing to debut the first all-electric Cayenne, and although the official premiere is not scheduled until late 2025, the prototype has already celebrated a record on one of the UK's oldest motorsport hills, Shelsley Walsh, which has been in use since 1905.
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The short but technically challenging 914-metre track with an average gradient of 16.7% was completed in 31.28 seconds by the electric crossover in factory camouflage. In doing so, the Cayenne beat the previous record for a production SUV (35.53 seconds) set by the Bentley Bentayga by more than four seconds.
Gabriela Jílková, test driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, was behind the wheel. The start was particularly impressive: it took just 1.94 seconds to reach 60 yards (18.3m) - the same time taken by formula cars on slicks, while the Cayenne had normal road summer tyres.
Porsche has yet to reveal the specs of the electric Cayenne, but thanks to a recent video with ex-Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, a few important details have come to light:
- The electric crossover has 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;
- Track EV mode produces a sound reminiscent of a V8 engine;
- Power is expected to exceed 730bhp. - this is the value of the most powerful petrol-powered Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid.
Porsche has also stated that the towing capacity of the Cayenne Electric will reach 3,500kg - the same as the petrol Cayenne and Rivian R1S. To emphasise this, Hammond hitched a retro Lagonda model to the electric car and noted that the traction of the electric motors makes it easy to tackle climbs, even with heavy loads.
Source: Porsche
