Porsche says Cayenne will be electric soon

One of the world’s most revered brands has laid out a revolutionary road map for the future, including a change in direction for its most popular model.

The 2023 Porsche Cayenne will have plug-in hybrid power. Picture: Supplied.

Porsche is preparing a purely battery-powered version of its Cayenne SUV for launch two years or so from now. And by the end of this decade it will be the only kind of Cayenne

still in production.

It’s Porsche’s plan to sell the new EV alongside the existing petrol-powered Cayenne line-up for a number of years.

Exactly how long will depend on the situation in each of the many global markets where the German brand operates. In rapidly electrifying markets the period will the shorter, while in those where EV sales growth is slower it will be longer.

But Porsche executives say Cayenne models with internal-combustion engines, including plug-in hybrids, will not continue beyond 2030.

The next generation Porsche Cayenne will be based on an EV platform. Picture: Supplied.

Production of the current Cayenne family began back in 2017. Normally there would be an all-new model in the pipeline and due soon, but Porsche has decided instead to extend its shelf life with a major update.

The revised Cayenne doesn’t look very different, but the SUV gets a new dash design, improved suspension technology and a more powerful engines. The updated models will begin arriving in Australia from about September this year.

At the recent European preview of the updated line-up, Porsche executives revealed the Cayenne EV would be an all-new design. Though similar in size, they said it would share no parts or panels with the coming updated Cayenne.

The Cayenne is Porsche’s most successful model, so the decision to make it only as an EV is a big step towards the company’s goal to have electrified vehicles make up 80 per cent of sales by 2030.

The Cayenne is Porsche’s most popular model. Picture: Supplied.

In 2022 the Cayenne accounted for 31 per cent of the company’s 310,000 global sales, ahead of the smaller Macan SUV with 28 per cent. Both sell more than double the total of Porsche’s iconic sports car, the 911. The sales mix is similar in Australia.

The Cayenne EV will share some technology with the coming Macan EV. Due into production next year, after delays, the Macan EV will feature fast-charging 800-volt battery tech and a pair of powerful electric motors.

In the meantime, the updated Cayenne line-up will include three plug-in hybrid models instead of the two in the current range. These new PHEVs will feature larger capacity battery packs and more powerful electric motors.

There will be three plug-in hybrids in the new Cayenne range. Picture: Supplied.

As before, one of the Cayenne PHEVs will prioritise efficiency and another performance. The new third PHEV will slot between them.

Tax breaks and other incentives offered in European markets means demand for PHEVs is growing. It’s not known if all three will make it to Australia, where plug-ins have met a lukewarm reception.

Originally published as Porsche says Cayenne will be electric soon