Porsche’s ‘crazy’ new Cayenne Turbo EV
This outrageous new machine shows why Australian authorities are concerned by the rapid and dramatic emergence of new technology.
At a time when regulators look to limit the performance of high-end cars, Porsche’s “crazy” Cayenne EV is like taking a bazooka to a knife fight.
Chinese authorities have responded to EV speed wars by proposing that all new cars default to a setting where cars need at least five seconds to reach 100km/h.
And South Australia has recognised the threat posed by ulta-rapid machines by introducing a new ultra-high performance driver’s licence, so road users understand the potential of their cars.
So the debut of a family SUV that can outgun just about every supercar on sale represents a bold move by Porsche.
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The bloke charged with developing it even says there are many folks who think “I’m crazy to put so much power into this car”.
With performance to tickle even the most showboating of speed-seeking sheikhs, it was meant to kick the petrol-powered Cayenne into retirement.
But the Porsche buying market has spoken.
The Macan mid-size SUV’s sales have plummeted since petrol made way for electric, and the Taycan EV grand tourer – brilliant as it is – hasn’t done great business.
This new Cayenne Electric is Porsche’s sledgehammer blow to convince shoppers that battery beats fossil fuels. What it lacks in purist flat-six or V8 vibrations, it’s gone route one and simply offers all the performance.
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In fact, when we compare the flagship Cayenne Turbo Electric to the lustiest petrol-powered Cayenne, the EV performs an automotive demolition job in practically every area.
Let’s start with the biggie.
PORSCHE EV POWERS AHEAD
The Cayenne Turbo EV – with 850kW and 1500Nm – is the most powerful production Porsche of all time. Hard to fathom considering the brand’s long history of searing 911 race cars for the road.
Acceleration? Try 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds. Not only is that a full second quicker than a new 911 Turbo S, this five-seat biggie trumps hypercars like the Aston Martin Valkyrie with electrified 6.5-litre V12 gas-guzzler.
That $5 million Aston would be out-dragged by our $259,900 Cayenne, despite the porky Porker being twice the weight. Oh, and the impractical Brit can’t carry the family, nor haul 3500kg.
Our Cayenne Turbo EV won’t “end the weekend” as not only does it match a Ford Everest’s towing clout, its adaptive air suspension musters 245mm ground clearance – more than a Toyota LandCruiser.
But let’s compare in-house rivals.
Peak petrol-powered Cayenne is the Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe. At $312,300 before on-roads, this plug-in hybrid with 4.0L V8/e-motor combo is $50k over the range-topping pure EV.
Yet that dinosaur combustion lump with electric backup is shaded by the new EV.
It offers 544kW (306kW less); 950Nm (550Nm under); labours to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds (1.2s longer) and 200km/h in 12.2 seconds … a painful 4.8s defeat to our EV.
Our EV wins towing capacity by half a ton, sneaks ground clearance by 2mm, has 130mm wheelbase advantage for a roomier cabin, and even has greater cargo space.
The combustion Cayenne has a higher top speed – 295km/h versus the EV’s 260km/h – but even autobahn users will probably find that’s ample.
Okay, I hear you.
The EV takes longer to refuel. You can slosh premium unleaded into a petrol Cayenne in a couple of minutes and you’re away, but the electric one needs time.
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With an optimal ultra-rapid public charger, a 10-80 per cent battery boost takes only 16 minutes, but in the real world, you’ll be hanging around way longer.
Now let’s talk distance between fill-ups.
The plug-in hybrid V8 petrol Cayenne offers 82km pure electric range and 11.6L/100km from a 70L fuel tank.
That’s 82km plus 603km, so overall range of 685km next to the EV’s 623km. Not a big gulf.
Michael Schaetzle, Vice President of the Cayenne model line, champions his new EV version above all else.
“It’s the best Cayenne we’ve ever built, and the performance numbers are wild,” he said.
“A lot of people told me I’m crazy to put so much power into this car.”
Explaining they did hot weather testing in Dubai, Schaetzle insisted the EV was king of the sand.
“It’s very easy to go up the dunes, and much better than an ICE (petrol) Cayenne where the engine must work really hard. The EV has so much torque, and you can switch on a (fake) V8 sound to hear what’s going on.”
Schaetzle is acutely aware of some Porsche customers’ EV reticence, so didn’t hold back stuffing in those insane performance numbers combined with 3.5-tonne towing.
“We didn’t want to give the customer a reason not to buy the car,” he said of the EV’s abilities.
But come on. Surely this is a vulgar amount of power for the family SUV?
“We did more than one million kilometres of testing, and not one engineer said it has got too much power,” Schaetzle said with a smile.
“All said it’s crazy but it’s great.
“The electronics help you to control it, and the adaptive suspension and traction control as well. The systems are working better in the EV than in the ICE.”
Game, set and match Cayenne Electric then?
On paper it’s impossible to argue, and Schaetzle makes a convincing case for the battery-powered SUV.
The EV-touting Porsche engineers have a point to prove, and good grief they’re pummelling even the most ardent petrol fans into surrender.
- with David McCowen
Originally published as Porsche’s ‘crazy’ new Cayenne Turbo EV
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