A Plug-In Hybrid Joins The Porsche Cayenne Lineup

Details of the next generation Cayenne, Porsche's best-selling vehicle, has been revealed. The 2015 Cayenne will boast “sharper design, boosted efficiency and extensive set of standard features,” according to the press release issued by the automaker.

The new generation offers five variants to choose from - the Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Diesel, Cayenne S Diesel and a new addition, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid. The S E-Hybrid will be the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment, with Mercedes and BMW chasing Porsche's tail. We hear that a Mercedes plug-in hybrid SUV will be added to the M-class lineup soon and a prototype of a production BMW X5 plug-in hybrid model has been roaming the roads since early this year. Porsche has announced that the launch of the Cayenne models will take place during the fourth quarter of 2014.  

The S E-Hybrid powertrain features a 94hp electric motor mated to a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine to generate a combined 410hp at 5,500 rpm and 435 lb-ft of peak torque from 1,250 to 4,000rpm. The manufacturer claims it can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 243kph and an all-electric maximum velocity of 126kph.

Also new is the Cayenne S’ 420hp 406 lb-ft 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo engine developed by Porsche. Even with fewer cylinders than its predecessor, which was a naturally-aspirated 395hp 369lb-ft 4.8-litre V8, the new engine generates more power and propels the vehicle from zero to 100kph in 5.2 seconds, 0.4 seconds less than the earlier model.

Prices of the new models will be up to 11% higher, but since demand had exceeded supply in the last few years, sales is not expected to suffer. Detlev von Platen, CEO of Porsche Cars North America, told Auto News:

“We are absolutely overwhelmed with what we have seen with the Cayenne the last four or five years. It seems like the Cayenne doesn’t have any life cycle at the moment. Demand is there.”

Sales of Cayenne’s in the States rose by 19% last year to reach a total of 18,507 units. In the first half of 2014, sales of the Cayenne totalled 8,713 units, which is 9% less than in the first half of 2013. While other automakers are streamlining their manpower, Porsche announced that it is looking to increase its workforce by 24% to fuel its global growth ambitions. The Stuttgart-based automaker aims to sell a record 200,000 cars in 2015, a number that will probably be made up mostly by the Cayenne as well as its younger and littler brother, the Macan.