Porsche readying twin-turbo V8 hybrid power for Cayenne

Porsche has revealed that it will drop its monstrous twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain under the bonnet of its all-new third-generation Cayenne SUV.

Launched with the second-generation Panamera, the Turbo S E-Hybrid powertrain combines a 404kW/770Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with a small electric motor that generates 100kW/400Nm. Combined, the V8 hybrid produces a mighty 500kW/850Nm.

That's enough to launch the Panamera hybrid, which weighs in at a hefty 2.3 tonnes, to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds.

When asked whether or not the Cayenne would get the Turbo S E-hybrid powertrain on the E-Hybrid launch, Porsche's SUV powertrain boss Markus Sitzler replied:

"Well, you have seen our strategy with the Panamera, to offer another performance-orientated hybrid. I think it's a nice strategy and would work [with the Cayenne]."

Sitzler wouldn't confirm when the flagship Turbo S E-Hybrid will be offered but it's likely the electrified V8 will slip under the Cayenne's bonnet some time in 2019.

Helping simplify the installation under the nose of Porsche's SUV, the Panamera and Cayenne are both based on the same MLB evo platform.

Set to weigh around the same as the Panamera, the Cayenne is likely to hit 100km/h in less than four seconds as it comes with the slower, but smoother eight-speed automatic instead of the Pananmera's more rapid-changing eight-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.

Top speed for the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid will also go up, but may not quite reach the sedan's 310km/h top speed.

Like the regular Cayenne E-Hybrid, the Turbo S E-Hybrid will utilise the same 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery that will provide for a pure-electric range of around 44km.

Controversially, Porsche has introduced the Cayenne to all markets without offering a diesel that historically accounted for more than 60 per cent of all sales Down Under.

When asked if the Cayenne would be offered with Audi's 3.0-litre V6 diesel or even the advanced 4.0-litre V8 turbo-diesel mild-hybrid system from the Audi SQ7, Sitzler said: "All I know is a diesel has been confirmed for the Cayenne. I don't know when it's coming, but it is coming," added the chief engineer.

It's thought plans to introduce the diesel are now on ice after the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel that powered the second-gen Cayenne was implicated in Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal.