The electric Porsche Cayenne shines in hillclimb race

Still camouflaged, but already formidable, the prototype of the Porsche Cayenne Electric recently had a little outing in Worcestershire.

Porsche continues the testing of its future Cayenne Electric, a 100% electric model that will complement the current range consisting of thermal and hybrid versions. Still camouflaged, a prototype close to the production model recently made headlines by setting a new record for an SUV at the historic Shelsley Walsh hill climb in the UK.

This 914-meter challenge, with a slope of up to 16.7%, is one of the oldest motorsport competitions in the world. It was Gabriela Jílková, the development driver for the Porsche Formula E team, who took the wheel of the Cayenne Electric for the occasion. She clocked a time of 31.28 seconds, which is over four seconds better than the previous record for an SUV. The prototype also covered the first 18.3 meters in just 1.94 seconds, a performance comparable to that of racing single-seaters equipped with slick tires.

A Cayenne has power!

This performance demonstration relies, in particular, on the Porsche Active Ride suspension, designed to keep the body perfectly level, including during braking, cornering, or acceleration phases. This system aims to strike the best balance between driving dynamics and ride comfort.

But Porsche is not limited to raw performance. To illustrate the versatility of the model, former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond used the prototype to tow a century-old car weighing over two tons. The result: a journey of several kilometers with a load of three tons, without the Cayenne showing any signs of weakness. The towing capacity can reach 3.5 tons, just like the thermal versions.

The Cayenne Electric will make another public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 10 to 13, 2025. Its launch will take place in the following months. Porsche promises an electric SUV combining performance, long-distance comfort, off-road capability, and everyday usability, without compromising the features already appreciated by current Cayenne customers.

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