Porsche shares Cayenne EV prototype pictures, confirms next generation is all-electric

The Cayenne changed Porsche forever when it launched, and it also shifted people's perceptions regarding what a sportscar manufacturer can and can't do (hi, Purosangue!). Its impact on the sportscar world can hardly be overstated, and so it lives on, with another revolution looming.

The next generation Cayenne will be all-electric, Porsche has confirmed today in a press release. It's also shared three images of a Cayenne EV prototype undergoing real-world testing, which has just begun.

Michael Schätzle, Porsche Vice President for Product Line Cayenne, said: "this is one of the most important milestones of the development process". By the launch date, prototypes will have completed "several million" test kilometers all over the world "under extreme climatic and topographical conditions". "In this way, we ensure the durability and reliability of the hardware, the software and all the car’s functions in accordance with our high quality standards", Schätzle continued.

The Cayenne EV is set to launch "in the middle of the decade", which we assume means next year but Porsche isn't saying anything more concrete just yet. It's built on "a comprehensive further development" of the PPE platform and uses an 800V architecture. "We are going to utilise the potential of electrification to take the Cayenne to a completely new level in a number of ways - for instance, in driving performance", said Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG.

Its development targets include high capacity and stable charging, high efficiency, and a high level of comfort and everyday usability. The new Cayenne EV will be "a completely redeveloped and redesigned model", the brand says, hoping it will "significantly support the ramp-up of electromobility at Porsche".

Interestingly, the current ICE Cayenne will be offered alongside the fourth all-electric generation, with improved efficiency for its engine. This sounds to us like Porsche is hedging its bets, just like it did a couple of days ago when it backtracked on its initially stated electrification goal, so let's wait and see what the future actually holds in regards to sales numbers.