Porsche EV Cayenne Leads The Charge But The V8 Lives On
Porsche have a huge layout for their future starting with the Cayenne which was said to taking a new form as an electric vehicle back in 2023 by the Volkswagen Group and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume. As per schedule the fully electric Cayenne will be debuting at the end of this year.
“In this respect, I am also very optimistic that we will be just as successful with the future electric Cayenne in North America, especially in California. We are going to present it to the world for the first time at the end of the year and I can reveal that its world premiere will take place right there on the West Coast,” Blume said.
Pic Credit: Porsche
But what about the gas-powered Cayenne? Will it follow the Macan’s lead and go all-electric? Fortunately, the answer is no. While the Macan has fully transitioned into an EV—available in Malaysia starting at RM 430,000 across four variants—the Cayenne’s internal combustion engine (ICE) models aren’t going anywhere. The locally assembled (CKD) Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe remain popular in Malaysia, despite their premium pricing starting from RM 599,999.
Pic Credit: Keran/Autofreaks
For Porsche fans, this means you can breathe easy—the Cayenne isn’t going fully electric just yet. In fact, it looks like Porsche is keeping the legendary V8 alive, which is a big deal. The electric Cayenne will be built at the same factory as its ICE counterpart in Bratislava, Slovakia. On top of that, Porsche has hinted at introducing more affordable ICE versions of the Cayenne in the future.
Meanwhile, Porsche has reshuffled its release schedule, prioritizing the electric Cayenne over the 718 Cayman/Boxster EV. Originally set for a mid-decade launch, the 718 EV will now arrive after the Cayenne, though Porsche insists it’s still on track.
Pic Credit: Porsche
In other news, the Stuttgart stallion is working on an entirely new gas-powered SUV. According to the company, it’s “evaluating an independent model line in the SUV segment with combustion and hybrid powertrains.” This means a new SUV—distinct from the Macan and Cayenne—is on the horizon, likely positioned between the two.
“We are developing an SUV, a Porsche-typical SUV, that will have synergies from other modules,” said Blume. “The first drawings and concepts are currently being developed, and they have been very well received. This is something that will cost us money [to develop], but for the future, it gives us more flexibility.”
Exciting times ahead for Porsche fans—whether you’re into EVs or still love the roar of a V8, there’s something for everyone.
