Cayenne Electric Experience in Sepang, Malaysia
What happens when you put a 2.6-tonne, fully electric SUV with 1,156 hp on a Formula One Grand Prix circuit and an off-road course? Throw in some intense heat, sprinkled with rain to liquefy the hardened clay just enough for a proper mudbath?
You get a truly unforgettable experience, something only the Porsche Cayenne Electric Experience can deliver.
Porsche has officially unveiled the all-new, fourth-generation, fully-electric Cayenne to the ASEAN market. While the new flagships are fully electric, the third-generation model—powered by a variety of gasoline and hybrid powertrains—will still continue to be sold alongside them, giving Porsche buyers the absolute freedom to choose their mobility.
So, what’s new with the Cayenne? Firstly, it’s built on top of an evolution of the brand’s PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture. Three variants are available: Cayenne Electric, Cayenne S Electric, and the range-topping Cayenne Turbo Electric. There are also two body styles: the traditional 2-box SUV design, and the flowing Coupe body style which, like the Taycan and Panamera models before it, apes the silhouette of the brand’s iconic 911 sports car.
Inside, the new dash architecture takes on a fully digital theme. The driver faces a 14.25-inch digital instrument cluster, while the center features a curved 12.25-inch OLED touchscreen Porsche calls the ‘Flow Screen.’ Not to be left out, passengers can opt for an even larger 14.9-inch display of their own. Of course, an augmented reality head-up display for the driver is also available. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a full suite of ADAS safety kit come standard.
There are also new seat designs tailored for comfort or sport. With a myriad of interior and exterior trims, colors, and materials on offer, Porsche says there are as many as 110,000 unique permutations available.
Power comes from an 800-volt architecture feeding a 113 kWh battery capacity. Dual motors generate anywhere from 435 hp in the base trim to a staggering 1,156 hp in the Turbo variant when launch control is deployed—unleashing an earth-shattering 1,500 Newton-Meters of torque!
True to Porsche tradition, the launch event allowed participants to fully experience the engineering behind the heavy specs.
The event was split into three core activities. The first was an off-road driving experience over traditional obstacles, paired with a high-speed, rally-style dirt stage. The second took us onto the legendary Sepang International Circuit for a mix of slaloms, launch control acceleration runs, and full circuit lapping—which proved to be the absolute highlight. The final activity used augmented reality to let participants see the 3D animation of the technology working under the skin.
My main takeaway? The power, especially in the Turbo variant, is truly overwhelming. When all those electric horses are unleashed all the way to a 260 km/h top speed, it generates up to 1.13 Gs of force—enough to compress your chest, drain the blood from your head, and break your focus. Do it four times in a row, and you’ll find a sudden need to relieve yourself.
Next is Porsche Active Ride, integrated into the Active Suspension Management. Active Ride absorbs bumps beautifully, actively tilting the vehicle into corners (lowering the inside and raising the outside) to drastically reduce chassis sway, improve grip, and increase cornering speeds.
Coupled with rear-axle steering (5 degrees of counter-steering at low speeds and 3 degrees of same-side steering at high speeds), the Cayenne remains confident and composed despite its heft. It also gives the massive SUV an unbelievably tight 11.1-meter turning circle.
Lastly, Porsche’s Active Traction Management proves that with the right engineering, a company famous for track performance can build an incredibly capable off-roader—even when shod with high-performance highway terrain tires. Through mud, sand, rocks, water, and nasty moguls, the Cayenne overcame every obstacle with ease. Ground clearance scales from a low 162mm up to 245mm in Off-Road II mode, offering a maximum water wading depth of 550mm.
It is highly unlikely a Cayenne owner will ever take their luxury EV off-road (a track day is far more realistic), but it’s good to know the chops are there to conquer the toughest trails.
This was a weekend well-spent in a vehicle that shatters the usual stereotypes surrounding EVs and heavy SUVs. For over 75 years, critics have jokingly claimed Porsche does things wrong—putting the engine at the back and the ignition on the left. Today, Porsche did another thing “wrong”: they built an electric SUV with the genuine heart and soul of a sports car that out-handles and out-accelerates purpose-built machines.
