- Porsche will sell the electric version of the next-generation Cayenne alongside the ICE model.
- Underpinning the brand’s new electric SUV will be the PPE platform also used by Audi.
- The Cayenne and smaller Macan EV may share motors, with higher-powered options available.
Update 7/11: Porsche’s electric Cayenne prototype has been spotted for the first time undergoing testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. As is common with testers, Porsche is currently focusing on fine-tuning the suspension and optimizing ground clearance.
If you’re wondering about the solid foam covering the wheel arches and underbody, it isn’t there for camouflage purposes. Instead, as our spies pointed out, it allows engineers to monitor the suspension travel by observing how much the wheels compress the foam during testing. This helps them assess how the suspension performs under high-speed cornering and bumps.
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Porsche is wasting no time in following up the all-electric Macan with an electric version of the Cayenne, which was snapped testing in the European Alps under heavy camouflage and body cladding.
This is not our first sighting of the electric Cayenne. Back in May, our spy photographers snapped a very similar prototype, but there was some speculation it may have been the brand’s forthcoming ‘K1’ SUV, which will slot above the Cayenne in its SUV range. That’s proven not to be the case, and this is indeed an electric Cayenne.
Read: Would You Take The 2026 Porsche Cayenne EV Over The V8 Version?
Like with the Macan family, Porsche will sell the electric Cayenne alongside the combustion model. Underpinning the EV will be the same PPE platform as the Macan EV and the Audi Q6 e-tron, but the Cayenne will be much larger. In fact, the Cayenne EV appears slightly longer than the ICE model, although it’s hard to say for sure given all the temporary body panels adorning this wacky prototype.
Some key design details are visible. For example, the electric Cayenne will have adjustable aero flaps across the front fascia, similar to those of the new 911. It’ll also adopt smaller headlights than the current Cayenne. Given how well the rear of the SUV has been hidden, it’s hard to comment on it, but there will be some trick LED taillights back there.
Powertrain details remain under wraps, but Porsche is likely to equip the electric Cayenne with twin-motor configurations similar to the Macan EV. The entry-level Macan EV boasts a respectable 402 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.
The performance-oriented Macan EV Turbo, however, raises the bar significantly with 630 hp and 833 lb-ft (1,128 Nm) of torque. Given that the electric Cayenne will be larger and heavier, Porsche will likely enhance the motors to provide even more power, particularly in the high-end models. Additionally, there are rumors of Porsche potentially offering an extreme four-motor powertrain.
The PPE platform’s 800-volt architecture and optimized cell chemistry will enable rapid charging up to 270 kW. If consistent with other models within the VW Group, this setup will allow for a 10-80% charge in around 20 minutes, with up to 160 miles (255 km) of range achievable in just 10 minutes from a near-empty state under ideal conditions.
The new Cayenne EV is expected to debut in late 2025 or early 2026, positioned above the current Macan EV, either as a 2026MY or 2027MY in North America.
