Unlike the Macan, the combustion-engined Cayenne will continue to fight after its all-electric sibling debuts in late 2025 for the 2026 model year. Spied testing at the Nürburgring with similar body panels and mounting points to the Macan Electric, the PPE-based Cayenne Electric will be joined by a three-row utility vehicle internally codenamed the K1.
Pictured on five-spoke wheels shod with summer tires, the 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric sports Cayenne-style door-mounted side mirrors. Its radar sensor is positioned squarely in the center of the lower grille, while the combustion-engine Cayenne sports its radar sensor in the center of its upper grille.
Both the front and rear lights feature light-emitting diodes. The rear end appears to be much more upright than that of the V6 and V8-powered Cayenne. Similar to the Macan Electric, the charging port is located on the right rear fender. The Cayenne Electric is expected to have both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, along with a Macan Electric vehicle-inspired cockpit layout.
According to a press release issued by Zuffenhausen’s favorite son on July 25, the fourth-generation Cayenne will be purely electric. In any case, the Cayenne Electric will coexist with its dinosaur-juice-gulping relative beyond 2030. The German automaker has promised three powertrain variants, referring to battery-electric, electrically assisted internal combustion, and pure internal combustion.
Big Kahuna Oliver Blume believes that Porsche's future product strategy will allow for a sales mix of 80 percent electric vehicles and 20 percent combustion vehicles. To this end, Porsche has chosen the Premium Platform Electric for the Cayenne Electric due to its 800-volt architecture and modular design.
Photo: SH Proshots
Developed in collaboration with the Volkswagen Group's Audi brand, the Premium Platform Electric further underpins the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron. Its most impactful application to date is the Macan Turbo Electric, which develops up to 630 hp (470 kW) kW) and 833 lb-ft (1,130 Nm) of torque. Impressive numbers indeed, but alas, the Macan Turbo Electric is also a heavy vehicle. In the US, it is rated at 5,393 lb (2,446 kilograms).
The next Cayenne Turbo Electric will certainly exceed 2.5 tons. Considering the slightly longer wheelbase, it should also receive a larger battery pack. All versions of the Macan Electric are equipped with 95 kilowatts hours. Estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency are not currently available, but we know the Macan Electric is good for anything between 536 and 641 clicks in WLTP Procedure combined test cycle.
In other words, 333-398 miles on a full charge. Needless to say, the Macan Turbo Electric is the quickest and fastest of the bunch, with a time of 3.1 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) with launch control. When equipped with summer tires, it can reach 162 miles per hour (260 km/h).
Heavier as it may be, the 2026 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric is sure to impress when standing still. The big question is, would you consider a zero-emission Cayenne with over 600 horsepower over a twin-turbo V8 Cayenne boasting a plug-in hybrid setup and 729 horsepower on tap?