Porsche builds a mighty plug-in hybrid follow-up to the Cayenne Turbo GT.
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT – the SUV that so badly wanted to be a 911 GT3 – had us all conflicted. A 2.2-tonne SUV shouldn’t be so much fun to drive.
The imminent facelifted Cayenne will give us something else to be conflicted about, because while the Turbo GT lives on, emissions regulations prevent it from coming to Europe. Instead, we’ll get an extra-sporty version of the range-topping plug-in hybrid.
There’s a lot we don’t know yet, including what the new model will be called, but Porsche has confirmed it will have “over 700bhp” (515kW) and “significantly more than 664lb ft” (900Nm), which should be plenty.
The new drivetrain, which will also be available in the third-generation Panamera, receives the same electric components as the Cayenne E-Hybrid, including a 130kW electric motor and a 25.9kWh lithium ion battery. That will enable an electric range of more than 70km, which CEOs picking their next company car will be delighted about.
Providing the meat of the power is the latest version of Porsche’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, which now runs a mono-scroll turbocharger with an electric wastegate in place of the twin-scroll turbocharger used previously, among other changes.
The wholesale increase in power and torque pitches the most powerful of Porsche’s plug-in hybrid-powered Cayenne models into direct competition with the BMW XM Label Red, whose petrol-electric drivetrain kicks out 545kW and 1000Nm.
We got to drive a prototype of the Cayenne Coupe with the GT package ahead of a planned unveiling at the Munich motor show in September, and performance is nothing short of scintillating.
The new plug-in hybrid drivetrain is hugely muscular, providing rabid step-off and fervent in-gear acceleration. The combination of electric motor and petrol engine power provides absorbing linearity and prodigiously muscular qualities to the delivery. There is great urgency under load in lower gears and effortless cruising on a more relaxed throttle in taller ratios. It is also terrifically vocal, with a deep-throated roar to the titanium exhaust in more sporting driving modes.
It is all handled by an eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox, with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel, and a fully variable all-wheel drive system.
Porsche claims a 0-100km/h time of “significantly less than 4.0sec”. It also quotes a top speed beyond 290km/h. As usual, though, it is being conservative. Those in the know reveal the follow-up to the earlier Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid is every bit as quick as the lighter Turbo GT, indicating it will dip into the low 3.0sec bracket in combination with the optional GT package. We’ve also heard it will top 300km/in its ultimate form.
The flagship Cayenne’s handling is equally as compelling as its sheer straight-line performance.
There is precision and purpose to the heavily weighted steering, which benefits from a 0.45deg increase in the camber of the front wheels and a rear-steer function. The GT package also brings a 10mm reduction in the ride height over standard versions of the new petrol-electric Cayenne.
The suspension combines dual-chamber air springs with an electromechanical anti-roll stabilisation system to provide outstanding body control and a great deal of grip. The torque-vectoring rear differential ensures a distinctly rear-biased feel yet momentous drive out of tight corners. It is not subtle, but it is hugely capable, delivering a level of agility and outright dynamic appeal that no 2700kg-plus SUV really has any right to possess.
Relax the driving mode to Comfort, and the most powerful of Porsche’s new plug-in hybrid Cayenne models is agreeable enough, given its performance potential. The ride with the GT package is still firm, mind. However, quick-acting variable damping and excellent wheel control provide it with sufficient absorption and compliance to ensure the upcoming alternative to the Turbo GT doesn’t get too unruly over nasty ruts and ridges.
Further features of the GT package include Porsche’s carbon-ceramic brakes and a lightweight carbonfibre-reinforced plastic roof panel.
Whatever the new car will be called, there’s no doubting its dynamic ability. It builds on the appeal of the already hugely capable Turbo GT with drivetrain electrification that ramps up the performance, as well as changes to the chassis to ensure it retains similarly captivating handling despite its added weight.
A definitive verdict will come when we get to drive the production version later this year, but based on this early prototype, it’s going to be a very fast and rather special kind of SUV indeed.