Latest Porsche Cayenne delivers more power with plug-in hybrid electric powertrain

German premium carmaker Porsche has released the 2020 Cayenne coupe and SUV onto the Australian market, with the promise of unprecedented power due to a new plug-in hybrid electric powertrain.

Photos, pricing and specifications of the latest Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe were announced on Tuesday, revealing a 100kW motor to compliment the Cayenne’s V8 engine.

Together, the whole plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system delivers 500kW of power with maximum torque of 900Nm (that’s a goodly more than the ICE – internal combustion engine – Cayenne Turbo’s max output of 404kW and 770Nm).

Pricing for the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid is available from $288,000 before on-road costs, while the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupé starts at $292,700 before on-roads (noting that both sport the same powertrain, as well as acceleration and top speed).

The 14.1kWh battery sitting below the floor of the E-Hybrid models allow up to 40km of zero emissions driving, and can be recharged within 2.4 hours on using the onboard 7.2kW AC charger (say at a destination charger), or 6 hours if simply charging at home on your standard 240V, 10 amp wall socket.

On the open road, pure electric driving will give you a speed of up to 135km/hr, acceleration from 0-100km/hr in 3.8 seconds and overall a top speed of 295km/hr.

In addition to using the electric powertrain for zero emissions motoring in E-Power driving mode, it can be used to enhance the driving experience in Hybrid Auto, Sport and Sport Plus modes, a trick that Porsche says it has borrowed from the 918 Spyder.

While we here at The Driven think that kind of misses the point of electric powertrains, there are sure to be some speed buffs out there who appreciate that little trait – and who knows, if you’re one of those people who is going to buy a Cayenne anyway, choosing a PHEV Cayenne instead should still help reduce your footprint.

To this end, the PHEV version comes in with a fuel consumption rating of 3.4 litres per 100km compared with the ICE version’s 11.9 litres per 100km, over a third less.

Other specifications for the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid and the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupé include:

• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) electric roll stabilisation system
• Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) rear-axle differential lock
• Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) high-performance brake system
• 21″ lightweight alloy wheels in Aero design, with wheel arch extensions in body colour for the wagon
• Power Steering Plus
• Sport Chrono Package
• Adaptive three-chamber air suspension, including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
• Lane change assist, speed limiter, pedestrian protection and park assist with rear and front cameras
• Full connectivity incluidng wireless Apple CarPlay and new USB-C ports

Thanks to the 14.1kWh battery, both features remote controlled air conditioning and heating that can be operated without the engine having to be on.

Both models (as well as the ICE) also a whole lot of other standard features including LED headlights, comfort access, 4-zone climate control, digital radio, side airbags in the rear, privacy glazing and ambient lighting.

The coupé, which is a good $4,000+ dearer than the wagon, comes with some slinky extras, including adaptive rear spoiler, panoramic glass roof (a carbon roof is optional), and “a rear seat bench with the characteristics of two individual seats”.

Up to 22-inch lightweight alloy wheels in varying design and rear-axle steering are also available as optional extras.

Although not sporting a pure electric powertrain – Porsche’s flagship fully electric Taycan is due to be launched in early September, and the carmaker has been showing off its superior performance in a series of speed runs – the introduction of PHEV versions of one of its more popular models is great to see.

Options such as these may convince those hesitant to make the switch to fully electric driving to go at least part of the way, and is a trend we are likely to see more and more of from legacy carmakers.

Another such example is the new BMW 225xe Active Tourer which was announced on Friday (European time),  and which with a 10kWh battery, 65kW electric motor and top electric speed of 131km/hr will offer up to 53km of zero emissions driving according to the German carmaker.

It is understood that Porsche is also planning a fully electric Macan, although a production date has not yet been officially announced.