Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid To Be Launched In India In September 2018

Porsche is set to launch the all-new Cayenne in India in September this year. Although the third-gen SUV will continue to be offered with the same set of V6 and V8 engines as before, there will be an electrified version as well. The Cayenne E-Hybrid will borrow technology from the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid which came before it.

Yes, the Cayenne E-Hybrid gets a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and electric motors mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic S auto ‘box. The combined output from this setup stands at 468PS of power and 700Nm of torque, letting it clock 0-100kmph in 5 seconds and a claimed top speed of 253kmph. With technology borrowed from the 918 Spyder, the Cayenne’s electric motor can provide boost at the press of a button too.

In pure electric mode, the SUV has a claimed top speed of 135kmph. It takes 7.8 hours to fully charge its 14.1kWh battery with a 230V power supply. However, if you opt for the 7.2kW on-board charger, the charge time drops to 2.3 hours, says Porsche.

So it’s clean and fast. But what about fuel efficiency? Well, you’ll be glad to note that this is the most fuel efficient Cayenne ever, as it returns 30.03kmpl, according to the New European Driving Cycle. And in pure electric mode, Porsche says the Cayenne E-Hybrid can cover 43.5km before needing a recharge.

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The new Cayenne gets other improvements as well. The chassis, for instance, now features a separated link design for the front axle, a multilink rear axle and an optional rear axle steering for improved handling. This mammoth can now be fitted with tyre sizes ranging from 19- to 21-inches as well.

As for the looks, we have to admit that Porsche has done some amazing work with the all-new Cayenne. Borrowing styling elements such as the horizontal light edges from other models give the Cayenne a wider and more athletic look. The larger air intakes add a lot of drama. LED lighting is now standard on all variants and customers will also be given the option to spec their Cayenne with the more expensive Porsche Dynamic Light System or LED Matrix Beam headlights.

Further, Porsche will offer its first full-colour head-up display with the new Cayenne. And apart from various driver assistance systems, it will also get an advanced adaptive cruise control system. Other features include massage seats, heated windscreen and remote-operated independent heating as well.

The Cayenne’s V6 and V8 variants are expected to be priced between Rs 1.1 crore and Rs 2.6 crore. At this price point, these will compete against the Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE, BMW X5 and their sportier variants. The Cayenne E-Hybrid, on the other hand, is likely to take the middle ground with a price tag of around Rs 1.5 crore and will not have any direct rivals. If you fancy buying one, you'd be glad to know that Porsche dealerships across the country have begun accepting bookings for the third-gen SUV. However, if you are looking for a hybrid SUV but want to spend less, you could consider the Volvo XC90 T8 which sits a segment below.