Plug-in Porsche Cayenne locked in

PORSCHE Cars Australia has confirmed that the all-new plug-in Cayenne E-Hybrid will land in Australia soon after the mid-year showroom debut of the initial three petrol variants of the third-generation Cayenne.

While prices, specifications and performance figures for the electrified Cayenne are yet to be divulged, the German sportscar-maker has announced that it is “on the cusp” of revealing the E-Hybrid.

GoAuto understands that Porsche will make that announcement at a standalone event, probably about May, and not at one of the upcoming international motor shows in New York this week or Beijing next month.

Overseas reports suggest the vehicle will have an all-electric range of about 48km on a 48kWh battery, and will be powered by a petrol-electric powertrain that marries the Cayenne S’s 320kW turbo 2.9-litre V6 engine with a 100kW electric motor – the same set up as the Panamera E-Hybrid.

Interestingly, Porsche is describing its latest development as “Cayenne Hybrid models”, indicating that it will have more than one electrified variant.

It has released a video of a fleet of Cayenne Hybrid prototypes being tested in extreme conditions in South Africa, Canada and Dubai.

Porsche SUV complete vehicle product line director Oliver Laqua said the hybrid vehicles were being put through a final round of tests in South Africa.

“We are on the cusp of the market launch and are bringing the vehicles up to speed in terms of functionality,” he said. “We are testing them here once again in a customer-focussed way.”

Testing is being done in a variety of conditions, including dusty slopes, rough asphalt, urban streets and mountain passes up to 3000 metres high.

Although a British report suggests the UK market will get the two V6 Cayenne variants – the Cayenne and Cayenne S – ahead of the V8 Turbo version, Porsche Cars Australia head of public relations Chris Jordan has reconfirmed that all three petrol Cayenne variants revealed to date will arrive Down Under together.

As GoAuto has reported, the new range will kick off with the 250kW 3.0-litre V6 Cayenne at $116,300 plus on-road costs.

Next up the line-up is the 320kW twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 at $155,100, followed by the flagship (for now) 410kW 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 Cayenne Turbo at $239,400.

If the Panamera E-Hybrid is any guide, the plug-in Cayenne will likely have a premium of about $13,000, slotting into the range between the standard Cayenne and Cayenne S, perhaps about the $130,000 markGTS and diesel variants are yet to be confirmed, although Porsche has said it is still planning a diesel version, despite the kerfuffle over dieselgate.