When the all new 2015 Porsche Cayenne hits the showrooms later this year it will offer a real plug-in hybrid option that mates a supercharged V-6 with a 70 kilowatt electric motor and 10.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The combination should power the nearly 2 ton Cayenne from 0 to 60 in just 5.4 seconds, while sipping comparatively little fuel. That’s the good news.
The not so good news is the car will have an electric only range of just 16 miles, after which it will require a 3 hour recharge period. It appears that the Cayenne plug-in power train is the same one found in the Panamera S E-Hybrid, which is rated at 50 MPGe or 25 MPG in gasoline only driving. Porsche says the plug-in version will list for $76,400, plus a $995 delivery charge.
The new Cayenne will also offer a 3.0 liter turbo diesel, a 3.6 liter twin turbo V-6 and a 4.8 liter twin turbo V-8 for those seeking the more traditional drivetrain.
Although the Cayenne will have the plug-in luxury SUV market pretty much all to itself for now, the long rumored Tesla Model X is lurking out there somewhere. Will SUV buyers prefer a hybrid with plug-in capabilities, or the pure electric vehicle bearing the lusted-after Tesla name.
Source: Gas2
