This is the new Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric, the fully expected and racier-looking spin-off of the upcoming Cayenne Electric large SUV.
It’s only the second coupe-shaped variant of the German automaker’s largest model across all four generations of Cayenne since 2002, following on from the original Cayenne Coupe which arrived in 2019.
Like the existing petrol-powered Cayenne Coupe which continues on sale, it shares much with its donor model, but the sweeping ‘flyline’ roof – which Porsche gamely compares to the look of a 911 – renders the newcomer 24mm lower overall than the SUV.
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In the other dimensions – including a length of 4985mm, wheelbase of 3023mm and almost 2.2 metres of width from mirror to mirror – the Coupe is identical to the Cayenne Electric.
However, that slippery shape improves the aerodynamic form of the Cayenne Coupe Electric, reducing the coefficient of drag down to 0.23 from 0.25Cd. This has a positive effect on range, which we’ll come back to.
Like the SUV, the Cayenne Coupe Electric has active aerodynamics, including cooling-air flaps in the front bumper, extendable vertical side spars which emerge at either edge of the rear bumper and an active spoiler.
Obviously, due to the revised shape of the tailgate, the Coupe’s item is of a different design to the one atop the Cayenne Electric SUV.
The Cayenne Coupe Electric has a different windscreen to the wagon as well. So if you get a stone chip in the glass, don’t go ordering the wrong screen as a replacement.
Inside, the Cayenne Coupe Electric is broadly unchanged, featuring the fancy new high-tech interior of the SUV, complete with its OLED ‘Flow Display’ infotainment and array of massive digital screens.
It can also be specified with four automatic doors, meaning they can be opened or closed simply by tapping the relevant icon on the touchscreen.
The main differences come in rear-seat space and their configuration, plus the boot capacity.
As standard, the Cayenne Coupe Electric comes with four seats, complete with a moulding for storage in place of the central squab.
As an option, a ‘2+1’ seating layout can be specified, but it’s not quite as roomy in the back as the higher-roofed SUV.
However, like the Cayenne Electric, the seats in the back of the Coupe are electrically adjustable for maximum comfort.
There’s a big drop-off in cargo capacity in the Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric, though. Compared to the SUV’s figures of 781 litres of boot space with all seats in use – rising to 1588L with the rear row folded down – the Coupe falls back to 534L and 1347L respectively as a direct consequence of its sloping tailgate.
At least its versatility is preserved in other regards, as the Cayenne Coupe Electric has the same 90L frunk and ability to tow up to 3500kg as the regular variant.
From launch, the three variants already seen in the Cayenne Electric family will be available in the Coupe lineup.
This means the entry point is the 300kW Cayenne Coupe Electric, which is able to rise to 325kW in a time-limited overboost mode. Its claimed 0-100km/h time is 4.8 seconds, with a top speed of 230km/h.
Sitting above that is the Cayenne S Coupe Electric, running 400kW in normal operation and rising to 490kW on overboost, in which it’s claimed to hit 100km/h in 3.8 seconds and a 250km/h top speed.
At the top of the tree will be the mighty Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric – complete with its outrageous outputs of 630kW in day-to-day use and up to 850kW when launch control is activated.
In that mode the Turbo is claimed to hit 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 260km/h.
Returning to that coefficient-of-drag figure we mentioned earlier, Porsche claims the car’s greater aero efficiency allows the Cayenne Coupe Electric to go around 15km further model-for-model than the SUV.
This would mean a peak range of 632km for the Turbo Coupe Electric, 658km for the base-grade variant and up to 666km for the Cayenne S Coupe Electric.
For the Coupe, though, there is a new – optional – Lightweight Sport Package. This includes a trimmer carbon roof, carbon body-trim elements and exclusive 22-inch wheels with high-performance tyres.
Inside, the Lightweight Sport Package also brings motorsport-themed flourishes, such as fabric seat centres in Porsche’s classic Pepita pattern, as well as a Racetex headliner and more carbon trim.
Porsche says that, depending on the model, the Lightweight Sport Package can reduce the Cayenne Coupe Electric’s weight by up to 17.6kg.
Pricewise, the Coupe will command a small premium over the equivalent Cayenne Electric SUV variant.
In Australia, the Cayenne Electric has been priced at $167,800 before on-roads, with the S standing at $193,100 before on-roads and the Turbo topping out at $259,900 plus ORCs.
The Coupe, meantime, will be priced from $173,600 plus ORCs in base form, increasing to $194,600 plus ORCs for the S, and $272,100 plus ORCs for the Turbo.
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric should arrive in the local showrooms shortly after the SUV lands on our shores, later this year.