Discussions about SUVs and electrified vehicles would’ve been considered taboo at sports car makers not that long ago. Nonetheless, Porsche has opened the door with the first Cayenne and hasn’t looked back – and, financially, is doing better than ever, with the Macan and Cayenne topping their sales charts.
Now, the company is entering a whole new ball game with the advent of its first electric vehicles in the form of the Taycan, which is coming this fall, and the more practical Taycan Sport Turismo.
Of course, Porsche has, for some time, rolled out PHEV versions of some of its models. The new generation of the 911 will sit alongside those eco-friendly models, as a plug-in hybrid version of the iconic sports car was already confirmed last year by CEO Oliver Blume.
More recently, it’s been brought back into discussion by the brand’s Product and Technology Communication representative, Ben Weinberger, who told us the following: “The new 911 is designed to be hybrid capable, but will not be offered as a hybrid at launch. But possibly in the course of its life cycle.”
The electrified 992 is believed to combine a flat-six engine with an electric motor, which would give it a total output of up to 700 horsepower. It should also be able to travel on electricity alone for short distances and will get “a special button for added electric punch”, Blume said.
While the 911 PHEV/Hybrid seems certain, it will be a while until Porsche decides if the Cayenne is a good contender for the electric race. The company’s contemplating with the idea of having the full-size SUV with a zero-emission powertrain, underpinned by a dedicated platform.
“For the other model lines, including the Cayenne, we are step by step testing the electrification”, Weinberger told CarScoops. This is seen as a necessary asset “simply because of the CO2 legislation”, as such a vehicle would help Porsche lower the overall carbon dioxide emissions.
We’ve been sitting sort of in the grey zone until now, so let’s move towards the light which, in this case, is the electric Macan. It’s already been confirmed for production and will arrive next decade, riding on the PPE architecture co-developed with Audi.
The first all-electric Porsche is six months away. The Taycan will launch in September as an alternative to the Tesla Model S, with the range-topping Turbo (a misnomer – but anyhow…) having in excess of 600 horsepower on tap and the ability of traveling for more than 500 km (311 miles) on a single charge, in the NEDC cycle.
Previewed by the Mission E Cross Turismo Concept, the Taycan Cross Turismo will hit showrooms next, with the same powertrain as the sedan, albeit in a jacked-up package with a Shooting Brake/Estate body style.
We’ve saved the best for last, as the 918 Spyder successor, which should come after 2025, is also in the picture. Unlike the hybrid hypercar discontinued in 2015, the new one could be all-electric, according to Blume – and Rimac, in which Porsche has bought a stake and is getting ready to launch its nearly 2,000 HP C_Two electric hypercar, might just get involved.