In the event you ever needed proof that we dwell in blessed automotive occasions, that is it. The Cayenne, the SUV that one-time Porsche loyalists mentioned would kill the model, will not be solely the corporate’s best-selling SUV – a golden goose stocking the corporate’s coffers to fund an ever-finer portfolio of sports activities vehicles – it is persevering with to evolve into paradoxical new dimensions of mind-bending poise and efficiency.
The Cayenne has all the time executed an excellent job of bringing each worlds collectively, providing an enticing drive and the type of day-to-day functionality that many lesser SUVs may by no means ship. The previous Hybrid and later E-Hybrid plug-in fashions started to indicate that Porsche was addressing the one lacking piece of the puzzle: frugality.
With these new-for-2024 E-Hybrid fashions, which supply way more vary than earlier than, frugality is lastly the secret. In the meantime, its improved suspension system presents even larger consolation, but options like rear-wheel steering and torque vectoring create an SUV that handles higher than something this dimension ought to. And there is the not-so-small matter of 729 horsepower on faucet, too. Let’s dig into the main points.
The Identify Is The Key
The brand new Cayenne E-Hybrid Turbo presents a mighty 729 hp and 700 pound-feet of torque when each its V8 and its electrical motor are at full track. Even the lesser Cayenne S E-Hybrid presents 512 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. These are massive numbers for an SUV of any shade, however for one thing that’ll go for an estimated 50 miles with out burning a drop of gasoline? That is exceptional.
On the E-Hybrid Turbo, you get Porsche’s tried and true turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with an almost sq. 591 hp and 590 lb-ft earlier than the battery kicks in. For the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, it is Porsche’s equally well-sorted 3.0-liter V6, making 348 hp and 368 lb-ft by itself.
That type of vary is obtainable by a brand new 25.9-kilowatt-hour battery pack. That is up nearly 50 % over the outdated E-Hybrid’s 17.9 kWh. The brand new batt is paired with a extra superior electrical system total with a number of different tips up its sleeve, like having the ability to hoover a whopping 88 kilowatts again from the electrical motor underneath braking regeneration. Extra on that somewhat later.
These kilowatts come from a brand new, 174-hp electrical motor sandwiched in between the interior combustion engine and the eight-speed computerized transmission. Its placement means the motor can add torque to that of the engine for optimum output. Alternately, it could drive the automotive by itself with full entry to each gear. Which means you possibly can cruise as much as 84 mph on the freeway with out firing the engine. Once more, exceptional.
Easy is Quick
For my time within the new plug-in Cayennes, Porsche began by throwing me the keys to a top-shelf Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe. The fastback taste of the SUV offers up simply 2.5 cubic ft of space for storing (dropping from 25.8 to 23.3) in change for sharper seems to be additional augmented right here by some basic crimson PORSCHE graphics down the perimeters – graphics I admit that felt a bit misplaced till I later appreciated simply how fast the factor was.
The day began in some terrible metropolis site visitors as we made our method via morning Barcelona rush hour. Drivers right here aren’t fairly as discourteous as these in Rome, say, however neither are they affected person towards foreigners who aren’t completely positive which lane to be in for an upcoming flip. I used to be repeatedly swarmed by hives of buzzing two-stroke scooters, which made me grateful for the entire Cayenne’s customary Park Help ultrasonic sensors, every chiming to alert me of many a sneaky overtake.
However as I inched via site visitors and finally broke free onto the freeway, I used to be equally impressed by simply how clean the brand new Cayenne’s powertrain is. I used to be cruising alongside at an indicated 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) earlier than I noticed that I nonetheless hadn’t fired that V8.
I used to be cruising alongside at an indicated 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) earlier than I noticed that I nonetheless hadn’t fired that V8.
When the engine did spin up whereas passing somebody, the transition from EV to hybrid was so clean I nonetheless could not inform. I needed to toggle the digital gauge cluster over to show the tachometer to make sure. As I deliberately cycled backwards and forwards from pure electrical to hybrid, there was no lurch and hardly any sound.
In its consolation setting, the suspension solely reinforces that. Whereas the roads on this a part of Spain are usually clean, neither separation joints on the highways nor the odd bits of damaged asphalt brought about any fuss within the cabin. The expertise was quiet and calm.
Now I do know what you are pondering: This does not sound like a lot of a sports activities SUV. My vacation spot that morning would go on to show its efficiency mettle.
Observe Time
The schlep via site visitors and up into the mountains north of Barcelona introduced me to an exquisite hidden race monitor known as Parcmotor Castelloni. After I arrived, I anticipated to be ushered into a distinct, track-prepped Cayenne. In no way. I used to be instructed to tug the exact same Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe onto pit lane and, with out even altering tire pressures (or placing on a helmet) I used to be despatched out for a lap session on what turned out to be a enjoyable, high-speed circuit.
I’m properly conscious that successfully zero Cayenne house owners will ever monitor their vehicles, however in these sorts of applications it’s extremely uncommon that we drive on each road and monitor on the identical vehicles. That I went from one to the opposite with principally no prep exhibits the boldness Porsche has that this factor can deal with it.
And sure, it could. It is no shock that the Turbo E-Hybrid is fast. The 0-60 time of three.5 seconds makes that apparent. Nevertheless it’s the ability supply that’s extra necessary. The torque of that sliver of an electrical motor means the Cayenne drives proper out of sooner turns with out hesitation, enhance filling to supply the shove at greater speeds – a driving power that was a lot for this technical monitor.
You possibly can inform it is a quick SUV by the numbers, however you must drive one to really feel how properly it turns. Porsche has not solely introduced its rear-axle steering system to play right here however its Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus rear differential as properly. In live performance, they make for a surprisingly nimble factor.
I say stunning as a result of I used to be getting somewhat out of form for my first lap at velocity. Anticipating understeer I turned in aggressively and aimed inside the apex. Constantly, I needed to make a late correction to keep away from leaping over the curbing, then needed to right once more because the rear stepped out underneath exhausting acceleration.
This Cayenne is a playful accomplice on the monitor, a genuinely good time. And, sure, the suspension did its half, making certain the factor dealt with fantastically and even maintained little physique roll regardless of my elevated place.
That unfold – the aforementioned on-road smoothness and surprising on-track poise – is due to the two-valve adaptive air suspension. This can’t solely do the standard tips of elevating the rig for off-road or dropping it for on-track stuff, however it could additionally differ compression and rebound damping on the fly to make sure optimum dealing with in all circumstances. Better of all, it is customary tools.
Turbo Versus S
Whereas my on-track time was restricted to the Turbo Coupe, I additionally wheeled a V6 Cayenne S E-Hybrid via some stunning mountain roads in and round Montserrat. I’ve to say: The S can be the one for me. It presents the identical battery and motor mixture, so the preliminary surge of electrical torque is identical. And, although it is down 217 hp over the Turbo, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid nonetheless has 512 mixed ponies on provide.
On the tight twists and turns, that was a lot. Nevertheless, it was right here that I began feeling some uneven brake efficiency. I used to be struggling to return to a relaxed and clean cease. It was solely later, in talking with a Porsche engineer, that I noticed what was occurring: the E-Hybrid’s braking system reconfigures itself relying on drive mode.
There are successfully two completely different braking modes that the automotive toggles between. A gentler, softer mode is used within the E-Energy and Hybrid Auto modes, whereas Sport and Sport Plus get a extra aggressive setting. As I spent a lot of my time on the highway swinging backwards and forwards between modes, feeling the completely different drive behaviors, I saved discovering myself needing so as to add extra braking power late or, in distinction, lurching to a too-early cease.
In the actual world, although, I do not count on this to be an issue. No person might be spinning the steering wheel-mounted driving mode dial as manically as I used to be that day. As soon as I noticed the distinction, I got here to understand the additional braking responsiveness after I was driving exhausting and the additional smoothness when dawdling via site visitors.
Decide Your Plug-In
Whereas this SUV won’t ever be Porsche’s largest fashion powerhouse, the refreshed Cayenne’s look and aesthetic are clear and enticing. For the E-Hybrid, there’s not a lot in the way in which of visible differentiation.
Commonplace options, although, are considerably boosted over the bottom Cayenne. Matrix Design LED headlights, eight-way energy seats, the aforementioned PASM, and even the Sport Chrono bundle come with out ticking a single field. You will have to jot down a relatively giant test, although.
The ultimate piece of the puzzle is price, and as you possibly can in all probability guess, provided that wealth of efficiency and customary tools, that price is critical. The bottom, 2024 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid begins at $99,100, the Coupe at $104,400. The Turbo E-Hybrid SUV, in the meantime, is a considerably extra expensive $146,900, and the Coupe $151,400.
Yeah, ouch, nevertheless it’s exhausting to really feel too bitter about that. With sufficient electrical vary for most individuals to get to work and again with out burning a drop of gasoline, plus with the type of exceptional velocity and efficiency on provide right here, it is a near-perfect bundle for giant spenders who want somewhat extra practicality than the remainder of the Porsche lineup. Positive, it will not flip the heads of anybody on the road, however it’ll absolutely open huge the eyes of anybody you’re taking for a experience.
Photographs: Tim Stevens For InsideEVs
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