Bar a slight drop in spaciousness and a price rise, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric impresses in almost all the same areas as the full-size Cayenne Electric. It’s comfortable, hugely quick and there’s the underlying dynamism you’d expect from a Porsche. But we don’t think the Turbo justifies its price tag, even with its ‘most powerful Porsche ever’ tagline. The S, on the other hand, feels like the sweet spot for the Cayenne Electric.
Porsche really tapped into the zeitgeist with the original Cayenne luxury SUV in the early 2000s, and since then we’ve seen the model change with the times thanks to plug-in hybrid technology and as of 2019, a Coupé variant. A higher price tag and less space (like most coupé versions of SUVs) seemed like a tough sell, but the sleeker model has accounted for a third of total Cayenne sales since it arrived, so clearly it’s been a fruitful endeavour for Porsche.
Now the Cayenne has gained an all-electric model, available either with the conventional SUV bodystyle or as a Coupé. The EV was originally intended to replace the combustion-engined Cayenne, but sluggish take-up of all-electric luxury cars has prompted Porsche to develop an all-new ICE Cayenne, which is due later this decade.
View Price on AmazonWhen that petrol-powered, next-generation Cayenne does arrive, it might look a bit redundant next to the Cayenne Electric, because the EV offers some astonishing technology. We first drove the Cayenne Electric in standard guise, but now it’s the turn of the Coupé in mid-spec S and full-fat Turbo trim, the latter still likely to rile Porsche purists seven years after it was introduced on the Taycan.
Like the full-size Cayenne Electric, the Coupé gets a whopping 113kWh battery within its three-metre long wheelbase. That powers a dual-motor set-up in all versions with 402 horsepower (435 horsepower on overboost with Launch Control) in the standard car for 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds and 143mph top speed. The mid-spec Cayenne S comes with 536 horsepower (657 horsepower in overboost) and lowers the 0-60mph time to just 3.8 seconds.
The Turbo goes several stages further. There’s 845 horsepower here or 1,140 horsepower with the 10-second overboost function in play – making it the most powerful Porsche ever. Initial acceleration from standstill is ferocious, taking 2.4 seconds to reach 60mph, but it’s a sensation we’ve experienced in plenty of fast electric cars before. Where the Turbo’s punch really stands out is at higher speeds. Where some sporty EVs tail off, the Turbo’s 7.4 seconds to get from 0-124mph is properly relentless.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
