Yahoo Autos Porsche Will Keep the Gas-Powered Cayenne Alive into the 2030s
Porsche boss Oliver Blume has officially confirmed that the internal-combustion version of the Cayenne SUV isn’t going away anytime soon. Despite plans to bring the all-electric fourth-generation Cayenne to market in 2026, Porsche will continue to develop the outgoing third-generation model, offering both pure ICE and hybridized powertrains beyond the end of the decade.
According to an announcement from Porsche, development is slated to continue on the third-generation Cayenne SUV, with a particular focus on improving the efficiency of the truck’s combustion powertrains. The Porsche Cayenne is currently offered with a number of different engine options, including a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and a turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8; both powerplants are also offered in different hybrid models, which add an electric motor to the party for improved performance and efficiency. The SUV received a major refresh last year, which Porsche says was one of its most extensive mid-cycle actions ever.
“The Cayenne has always defined the sports car in its segment,” said Blume. “In the middle of the decade, the fourth generation will set standards in the segment as an electric SUV. At the same time, into the next decade our customers will still be able to choose from a wide range of powerful and efficient combustion and hybrid models.”
The announcement comes just days after Porsche walked back its initial electrification goals set for 2030. The brand’s executives say neither the technology nor the demand is there yet to commit to an 80%-electric-by-volume lineup come the end of the decade. That said, the automaker is committed to being as flexible as possible, remaining ready to meet increased EV demand should the market materialize in regions like China, Europe, and the United States.
“Our product strategy could enable us to deliver more than 80% of our new cars fully electrified in 2030 – depending on the demand of our customers and the development of electromobility in the regions of the world,” said Blume.
The Porsche Cayenne has routinely been one of the brand’s most popular models, leading all models in overall sales volume several times in recent years. While the EV models do promise to be an exciting entry in the electric SUV space, keeping the gas-powered variants alive protects the brand’s market share for the time being. Interestingly, it seems the Cayman and Boxster models won’t benefit from the same thinking, unless the brand walks back its earlier decision. It’ll be interesting to see how many customers stick with a more traditional internal combustion SUV after the EV model arrives...
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