Cheaper new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid revealed

The new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid will not only be more powerful, but much cheaper than before.

Revealed overnight in Germany, the first hybrid version of the new-generation Porsche Cayenne, which arrives in Australia in standard, S and Turbo forms next month, will be priced at $135,600 plus on-road costs.

That makes the new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, which hits European showrooms within weeks and Australia by September, $9900 cheaper than the non-plug-in model it replaces.

Positioning it between the entry-level 3.0-litre turbo V6 Cayenne ($116,300) and the twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 Cayenne S ($155,100), the price is higher than that of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e ($129,500) but lower than the BMW X5 xDrive40e ($144,990) and Audi Q7 e-tron ($139,900).

What’s more, thanks to a V6 petrol-electric hybrid powertrain borrowed from the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, the new Cayenne PHEV also brings more power and torque than the superseded Cayenne S E-Hybrid.

It combines the 250kW 3.0-litre petrol V6 from the base Cayenne with a 100kW electric motor (up 5kW and 43 per cent respectively) to deliver combined power of 340kW via a new eight-speed automatic transmission with electro-mechanical clutch and all-wheel drive.

That’s not only 31kW more than before, but more than the GLE 500e (245kW), X5 40e (180kW) and Q7 e-tron (190kW). Peak torque, meantime, increases by 150Nm to 700Nm,

Despite weighing about 2300kg, the big Cayenne hybrid is claimed to hit 100km/h in five seconds – almost a second sooner than before – and a top speed of 253km/h.

Yet fuel consumption is also slightly reduced, to 3.2-3.4L/100km, with CO2 emissions also down from 79 to 72-78g/km.

At the same time, a 30 per cent larger 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery offers an all-electric driving range of up to 44km at speeds of up to 135km/h.

The more powerful electric motor aids efficiency in standard driving modes, and performance in Sport and Sport Plus modes.

Porsche says the Cayenne E-Hybrid’s liquid-cooled battery, which is mounted under the boot floor, takes 7.8 hours to charge via a 10-amp, 230-volt European household power outlet, or 2.3 hours with a 32A, 230V socket with optional 7.2kW on-board charger.

Standard equipment will include active suspension, autonomous emergency braking and a climate control system that can heat and cool the cabin with the ignition off.

Australian Cayenne E-Hybrids will also come standard with rear-side airbags, surround-view cameras, DAB+ digital radio, privacy glass, lane-change assist, auto-dimming mirrors and driver’s seat memory.

Options will include Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) roll stabilisation, a Porsche-first head-up display, 22-inch alloy wheels and an InnoDrive package with adaptive cruise control, massaging seats and a heated windscreen.

There will also be an optional tow kit offering a hefty 3500kg maximum towing capacity.

How much does the 2018 Porsche Cayenne cost?
Cayenne -- $116,300
Cayenne E-Hybrid -- $135,600
Cayenne S -- $155,100
Cayenne Turbo -- $239,400
* Prices exclude on-road costs