Unveiled at England’s legendary Shelsley Walsh hill climb, the camouflaged Porsche Cayenne Electric prototype didn’t just steal the show—it smashed the SUV course record by over four seconds, blazing through the 1,000-yard, 16.7 percent incline in a blistering 31.28 seconds. Oh, and former Top Gear host Richard Hammond used it to casually tow a 100-year-old, two-tonne vintage car like it was no big deal, proving this SUV is as tough as it is lightning-fast.
Gabriela Jílková, a star driver from the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, took the wheel of the Cayenne Electric on the tight, relentless Shelsley Walsh track, a beast that’s been testing drivers since 1905. Her 31.28-second run didn’t just nudge past the old SUV record set by a Bentley Bentayga—it crushed it by a mile. “This course doesn’t mess around; one slip and you’re done,” Jílková exclaimed.
- Build and explore the LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSR—an icon of innovative engineering and design
- Features aerodynamic bodywork, black spoked rims, working differential and steering, independent suspension and a six-cylinder boxer engine
- Open the doors to access a radar screen, working steering, fire extinguisher system and a track map of the Laguna Seca
Built on a stretched-out version of the VW Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE), shared with the Macan Electric, the Cayenne Electric isn’t just a gas model gone green. It’s a total reimagining, built to unleash the instant torque and low-end grunt that make electric vehicles kings of hill climbs.Porsche is keeping power numbers a secret, but rumors point towards 500 to 800 horsepower, maybe even hitting 1,000 in the top-tier trims. The Macan Electric’s 402-hp base and 630-hp Turbo give a hint, but the Cayenne’s ready to blow those out of the water, especially in potential GTS or Turbo models.
Inside, the Cayenne Electric is a tech lover’s dream with a Porsche flair. Spy shots show a cockpit packed with four screens, including a sleek curved gauge cluster and two touchscreens under one big glass panel, stretching across two-thirds of the dash like a futuristic command center. A toggle gear shifter and barely any buttons keep things clean and sharp.
This SUV doesn’t skimp on practicality either. During a film shoot in England, former Top Gear host Richard Hammond put the prototype through its paces, towing a hefty vintage Lagonda over two tonnes. “It was like the weight wasn’t even there—the Cayenne made it look easy,” Hammond said, clearly impressed. With a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds (3.5 tonnes), matching its gas-powered sibling, this electric beast is one of the toughest EVs for hauling.
The Cayenne Electric’s active chassis system is where performance and utility team up. Paired with an Active Ride system, it keeps the SUV steady and precise, as proven on Shelsley Walsh’s brutal slope. It’s Porsche’s way of mixing sports car thrills with SUV versatility. Schätzle nailed it: “We’ll keep offering our customers powerful combustion and hybrid options into the next decade, but the kind of jaw-dropping performance we showed in England? That’s the magic of electric.”
Porsche’s playing it smart by giving choices. Unlike brands going all-in on EVs, they’re keeping the electric Cayenne alongside its combustion and hybrid brothers well past 2030. It’s a practical move, especially with the luxury EV market growing slower than expected. The gas-powered Cayenne, fresh off a 2024 glow-up, will keep evolving, but the electric model is where Porsche is pushing the limits. Set to debut later this year with a global rollout in 2026, pricing starts around $90,000, though a fully loaded Turbo could easily climb past $130,000.
