Porsche plug-in hybrid arrives
Porsche has announced the range-topping variant for its Cayenne large SUV, with the Turbo S E-hybrid priced from $288,000 plus on-roads in wagon form and $292,700 in coupe guise.
Arriving in showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year, the Turbo S Ehybrid is $46,400 and $39,100 dearer than the Turbo version of the Cayenne wagon and coupe respectively.
For the Cayenne Turbo S E-hybrid, Porsche has borrowed the same powertrain from the Panamera Turbo S E-hybrid – a plug-in hybrid set up that teams the Turbo’s 404kw 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a 100kw electric motor that increases power output to a heady 500kw.
The Turbo S E-hybrid’s 500kw outstrips the likes of the Mercedes-amg GLE63 S, 430kw, Maserati Levante Trofeo, 441kw, Range Rover Sport SVR, 423kw, Lamborghini Urus, 478kw, BMW X5 M, 423kw and Bentley Bentayga W12, 447kw, but falls short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and its 522kw supercharged 6.2-litre V8.
At 900Nm, torque is also up 50Nm over the Panamera and 130Nm over the Cayenne Turbo’s 770Nm, with the Turbo S E-hybrid’s torque output only matched by the Audi SQ7 and its turbocharged diesel V8.
In the Turbo S E-hybrid, power is channelled to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowing for a zero-to-100kmh sprint time of 3.8 seconds while on the way to a top speed of 295kmh.
The Turbo S E-hybrid uses a 14.1kwh lithium-ion battery that has a pure-electric range of 40km and allows the Cayenne to travel up to 135kmh on zero-tailpipe-emissions power.
Charging the battery takes 2.4 hours when using a 400-volt connection and 16-amp fuse, while using a 230V10-amp household socket takes six hours.
As befitting its status as top-spec model for the range, the Turbo S E-hybrid scores a number of performance-oriented features, such as Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, PDCC, active roll stabilisation, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, a rearaxle differential lock, carbon-ceramic brakes, Power Steering Plus, Sport Chrono package, three-chamber air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management, PASM, and 21inch alloy wheels with body-coloured wheelarch extensions in the wagon only.
Twenty-two-inch RS Spyder Design wheels are standard on the coupe version in Australia and optionally available on the wagon, while rearaxle steering, LED Matrix headlights, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and Night Vision with thermal imaging camera are optionally available on both.
The coupe is further differentiated by its adaptive rear spoiler, two-seat second row and an optionally available carbon-fibre roof.
Additional standard equipment in Australian models includes four-zone climate control, rear side airbags, LED headlights, ambient lighting, privacy glass, keyless entry and start, digital radio, panoramic sunroof and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay, USB-C ports, sat-nav with real-time traffic information and Porsche Connect.
Standard safety kit extends to cruise control with a speed limiter, pedestrian protection, front and rear park assist with surround-view cameras, and lane-change assist.
Through the first seven months of the year, Cayenne sales have seen a significant 80.4 percent lift due to the all-new model arriving in June last year, up to 839 sales from 465.
Despite the increase, it sits fourth in the $70,000-plus large-suv segment, trailing the BMW X5, 1990, Range Rover Sport, 1516, and Lexus RX 1135.