Porsche's Cayenne E.V. Is Incoming, But Gas-Powered Models Will Live On Past 2030

Porsche’s commitment to ICE power in the Cayenne

Porsche isn’t merely extending the life of the internal combustion engine (ICE) in the Cayenne; it’s actively refining it. The current 2024 Cayenne lineup showcases a diverse range of powertrains, from the base 3.0-liter turbo V6 to the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 available to the S, GTS, and Turbo models. Interestingly, both the V6 and the V8 are also available with plug-in hybrid options, making the lineup more balanced in efficiency and power.

Across the Cayenne lineup, Porsche could potentially introduce a mild hybrid system similar to the T-Hybrid technology from the 2025 911 Carrera GTS or plug-in hybrids. Pure ICE Cayenne models post-2030 will unlikely exist as brand-new models. The E.U.’s current resolution of banning the sales of ICE vehicles post-2035 is something that needs to be considered as well.

It’s hard to say if ICE vehicles will be scrapped from the market by 2035 because of notable developments in synthetic fuels. Porsche is currently working on the agenda and is heavily invested in the tech. In 2023, Porsche developed a new plant in Patagonia, Chile, to make e-fuels as an alternative gasoline. Yes, you heard it right! A factory for not building cars but for producing e-fuels. Porsche sees e-fuels as a viable long-term solution for the sustainability of internal combustion engines. However, e-fuels are expensive, and unlike dino juices, they have to be produced and can’t be dug out from the middle of a desert.

The Cayenne EV is already being tested as we speak

The next-gen Cayenne is going all-electric, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get the ICE and hybrid models. According to CEO, Oliver Blume Porsche’s head honcho, "The Cayenne has always defined the sports car in its segment. In the middle of the decade, the fourth generation will set standards in the segment as an electric SUV." He also explained that the Cayenne EV will be available alongside the pure ICE and hybrid variants.

The all-electric Cayenne version will ride on an amped-up version of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, boasting an 800-volt system for faster charging and better voltage output. Michael Steiner, Porsche’s R&D boss, spilled the beans, saying, "We are going to utilize the potential of electrification to take the Cayenne to a completely new level in a number of ways - for instance, in driving performance."

And it’s not just talk; Porsche already has prototypes of the electric Cayenne out in the wild, racking up test miles across the globe. Before this bad boy hit the road, it’ll have endured millions of miles of testing under the harshest conditions, ensuring its reliability and potentially ironing out all the technical faults before it reaches the hands of customers.

Porsche isn’t just resting on its laurels with the current Cayenne. It’s pouring serious resources into making it even better, especially when it comes to gasoline engines. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which powers the expensive Cayenne models, is getting a major tune-up to make it more efficient and ready to tackle whatever emissions regulations the future throws at it.