Cayenne Electric Breaks Record and Highlights Everyday Usability

Porsche’s Cayenne Electric prototype sets a new SUV record at Shelsley Walsh and proves towing capacity on par with petrol models. No compromise on performance.

Porsche is steadily moving towards an electrified future, and the upcoming Cayenne Electric is a vivid example of this strategy in action. The prototype of the brand’s second all-electric SUV tackled the legendary Shelsley Walsh hill climb in England and immediately rewrote the record for SUVs. Behind the wheel was Gabriela Jilkova, simulator and development driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. On her very first run, she shaved more than four seconds off the previous best, completing the 914-metre course in 31.28 seconds. Notably, the first 60 feet were covered in just 1.94 seconds — a figure usually reserved for single-seater race cars on slicks.

The Cayenne Electric owes its impressive stability to the new Porsche Active Ride system. This active suspension keeps the body level at all times, helping the SUV maintain poise even on steep inclines and tight bends of the historic British track. Jilkova noted that she felt fully confident throughout the run: the course leaves no room for error, but the electronic systems and suspension gave her complete trust in the car.

Practicality remains a cornerstone for Porsche. During filming, British TV presenter Richard Hammond hitched a trailer carrying a vintage car weighing over two tonnes to the prototype. The total weight was around three tonnes, yet the Cayenne Electric handled the towing task effortlessly. The production version will offer a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, matching that of the current combustion-engined models.

The new model uses the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), co-developed with Audi and already underpinning the Macan EV and Audi Q6 e-tron. This aligns with VW Group’s broader goal: by 2030, more than 80% of all new Porsche vehicles should be fully electric. Even so, the company confirms that combustion and hybrid versions of the Cayenne will stay in the lineup at least until the end of the decade — for customers not yet ready to go fully electric.

The global market launch of the Cayenne Electric is expected at the end of 2025, starting in the US, followed by Europe and China. In July, the prototype will be on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It seems likely that Porsche will use this stage to further show how electrification can enhance, not sacrifice, the Cayenne’s well-known versatility, dynamic spirit and everyday usability.