Even Porsche's New Electric Cayenne Can't Live Without A V8 Soul

While full details have yet to be revealed, Porsche officials at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed – at which a heavily camouflaged, pre-production Cayenne EV was showcased – suggested that power could rise beyond 986 hp. But it won't be a silent rush of speed. Even without a combustion engine, Porsche wants its flagship performance SUV to have a throaty V8 rumble. Synthesized, of course.

If confirmed, this would make the Porsche one of the most powerful e-SUVs on the market, behind only the likes of Tesla’s 1,020 hp Model X Plaid, and Faraday Future’s 1,050 hp FF91. Yes, that's the one with the fancy AI user interface that could be as conversational as KITT from Knight Rider.

Three Models And Potentially 986-Plus Horsepower On Tap
Said grunt and immediate torque will be delivered via three electric motors – two on the front, one at the rear – in a similar layout to the all-electric Macan. There’s similarly no word on torque levels, though upwards of 1,000-pound feet has been mooted. A brand-new torque distribution system has apparently also been developed to avoid the axles snapping themselves in half. All this means the top-drawer Cayenne EV will likely hit 60 MPH from standstill in less than three seconds, undercutting the 3.7-second time of the lighter though less powerful Turbo E-Hybrid. Top speeds will almost certainly be restricted to 155 MPH.

This would not be the sole example offered though, with a three-model line-up – the Cayenne, the Cayenne S, and the name-only Turbo – expected. Power for the former would likely be around the 390-hp mark. Alongside epic performance, a 100-plus kilowatt battery could endow the Cayenne EV with a potential electric range of over 350 miles. That would place it in line with EV rivals like the Lotus Eletre and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E.

Genuine Porsche V8 Soundtrack
Although Porsche has revealed no images of the EV’s interior, it’s understood that the electric Cayenne will feature a synthesized soundtrack derived from a genuine Porsche V8. It will allegedly be something that drivers can switch on whilst on the move, a la the Taycan. This not only tangentially retains the link between the Cayenne and the V8 that’s existed since 2002, but works to offset the electric hum that could potentially be off-putting to potential customers.

Despite the added bulk and high ground clearance, the new electric model is expected to handle like its lighter ICE counterparts, thanks to the inclusion of active dampers and independent suspension on all four corners. Indeed, the Cayenne’s maneuverability was recently proven when it broke the official record on the Shelsley Walsh hill climb. And let's not forget this is an SUV. Porsche is adamant the electric Cayenne will still function off-road as well.

Customer orders for Porsche’s new battery-electric flagship are expected to open later this year ahead of a full launch, in Europe at least, in early 2026. Prices have also yet to be revealed.