Tag Archives: EVs

News

Porsche Cayenne Electric: Record-Breaking SUV That Tows Like a Truck

As Porsche edges closer to the launch of its second all-electric SUV, the brand has begun peeling back the camouflage—literally and figuratively—on what might be its most versatile EV to date. The upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric has entered the final stages of global testing, and it’s already making headlines. A near-production prototype recently shattered a hill climb record, hauled vintage metal across the English countryside, and offered an early glimpse at what electrified performance and practicality can really look like.

Electrified Heritage Meets British Motorsport

The stage for this electric debut? None other than the legendary Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb—a motorsport relic dating back to 1905. Nestled in Worcestershire, England, the narrow and notoriously technical track played host to a filming project featuring the new Cayenne Electric, with none other than Gabriela Jílková, simulator and development driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, behind the wheel.

Gabriela Jílková

Facing gradients of up to 16.7% and corners barely wider than a city alley, Jílková piloted the prototype SUV to a record-breaking 31.28-second run—over four seconds faster than the previous SUV best.

“The course is challenging and does not forgive mistakes,” she remarked. “But the active suspension gives the new Cayenne enormous stability and precision. I felt completely confident at all times.”

Precision Meets Power: Porsche Active Ride

Much of that confidence stems from Porsche Active Ride, a new active suspension system debuting in the electric Cayenne. Designed to keep the body flat and composed under hard braking, acceleration, and cornering, it ensures a refined yet dynamic driving experience—crucial for a vehicle straddling the line between sports car agility and SUV practicality.

According to Michael Schätzle, Vice President of the Cayenne product line, the technology “significantly expands the range between driving dynamics and ride comfort.” And the numbers back it up. From a standstill, the SUV blasted past the first 60-foot marker in just 1.94 seconds, a figure typically reserved for open-wheel race cars fitted with slicks.

A Utility Vehicle That Means It

But raw speed isn’t the only metric Porsche is gunning for. While performance grabs headlines, Porsche hasn’t forgotten what made the Cayenne a global success over two decades: usability and versatility. During the filming in England, automotive presenter Richard Hammond put the prototype to a different kind of test—hauling a two-tonne, 100-year-old classic car on a trailer from Hereford to his garage.

Despite a combined towing load of nearly three tonnes, the Cayenne Electric performed the task with ease. Hammond summed it up succinctly:

“We were trailing significant weight behind us, but you wouldn’t know it – the Cayenne handled it effortlessly.”

That’s no coincidence. Porsche confirms that the Cayenne Electric is being engineered to offer a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, matching its combustion counterparts—a rare feat in the battery electric vehicle (BEV) world.

A Glimpse Into Porsche’s Electrified Future

The Cayenne Electric isn’t just a performance statement—it’s a manifesto. Schätzle emphasized Porsche’s commitment to offering combustion, hybrid, and fully electric powertrains well into the next decade. Yet, he acknowledged that only electrification could unlock the unprecedented blend of power, efficiency, and refinement showcased at Shelsley Walsh.

“The Cayenne Electric will set new standards—without compromising on everyday usability and practicality,” he said.

With its global launch drawing closer, the Cayenne Electric is shaping up to be more than just an evolution—it could be a revolution for luxury electric SUVs. Blending track-taming agility, trailer-hauling muscle, and road-trip-ready comfort, it stands as a compelling argument that the age of electrification doesn’t mean leaving utility behind.

Source: Porsche

Gallery:

Porsche Cayenne Electric: Record-Breaking SUV That Tows Like a Truck
News

Kia Targets Sub-€25K Electric City Car as EV Market Heats Up

As the auto industry accelerates toward electrification, Kia is not just keeping pace — it’s setting a course for an ambitious electric future. By the end of this decade, the South Korean automaker is poised to introduce a fresh generation of electric vehicles, software-defined architectures, and even a return to simplicity in design. The company’s roadmap blends affordability, intelligence, and versatility — and it’s aimed squarely at both developed EV markets and underserved global regions.

A New Electric Chapter: From Flagship to Entry-Level

Kia’s current electric lineup — the EV3, EV6, and EV9 — will soon be joined by the EV4 and EV5 this year, with the EV2 landing in 2026. But the real story lies just beyond the horizon. The brand is working on a new entry-level EV, priced below €25,000, aimed at consumers looking for affordable electric mobility. This sub-EV2 model could mark a pivotal moment for the EV market, offering a real alternative to internal combustion without sacrificing quality or style.

Interestingly, Kia’s CEO Ho Sung Song sees this model not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of the company’s future. Although the venerable Picanto city car remains strong in sales — especially after its 2023 facelift — its eventual successor will almost certainly be electric. Whether the two will overlap in showrooms depends on evolving CO₂ regulations in Europe.

The inspiration behind this new breed of Kia? Simplicity. Design boss Karim Habib cites Japanese retailer Muji as a creative muse — a brand that values utility, minimalism, and adaptability. Kia is exploring how to build vehicles that are stripped to their essential form, but remain highly customizable. That mindset could be the key to delivering desirable, affordable EVs to a global market.

Software-Defined Vehicles: The EV Brain Revolution

But Kia’s ambitions stretch well beyond creating more EVs — the company is engineering smarter ones.

Kia is embracing software-defined vehicle (SDV) architecture, a systems-focused evolution that replaces fragmented electronic subsystems with centralized computing. This unified brain allows for streamlined updates, reduced development costs, and the flexibility to offer personalized digital experiences across the model range.

Development of the SDV platform has been underway for over three years, and the first tangible sign of progress may come as early as next year in the form of the SDV Pace Car concept — a glimpse at the brand’s digital future. The next-gen EV6 and EV9, due before 2030, will be among the first models to adopt the 800V SDV architecture.

“Because we are decoupling hardware and software, we can be more flexible making different kinds of vehicles based on the same platform,” said Song. It’s a move that signals not just smarter cars, but faster and cheaper development cycles — a win for both Kia and its customers.

Beyond the Car: Vans, Pick-Ups, and Range-Extenders

Kia’s electrification strategy isn’t confined to passenger vehicles. The brand is entering new territory with a dedicated PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) lineup — think electric vans and pickup trucks. The PV5 will lead the charge, followed by the larger PV7 in 2027 and PV9 in 2029.

To support larger, heavier vehicles, Kia is also exploring extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), or range-extenders — a hybridized system that uses a combustion engine to recharge the battery when needed. These are particularly promising in markets where pure EVs remain impractical due to infrastructure limitations.

“The final destination in Europe is EVs,” said Song, “but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EREVs.” This reflects Kia’s pragmatic approach — leading with EVs where possible, while offering flexibility where needed.

Design Renaissance: Simplicity Meets Innovation

Despite rapid innovation, Kia isn’t forgetting the emotional appeal of car design. Song acknowledged that while the current design philosophy has served the brand well for five years, it’s time to evolve. Habib confirmed that fresh concept cars are coming, and while details remain under wraps, the emphasis is clear: stay bold, stay fresh.

Kia is also investing in in-vehicle AI assistants — developed in partnership with tech giants like Samsung — to offer users more intuitive and connected experiences. Customers increasingly expect their vehicles to mirror the digital ecosystems they live in, and Kia intends to meet them there.

The Road Ahead

Kia’s vision is both grounded and forward-looking. It recognizes the real-world complexity of a global market while embracing a fully electric, software-integrated future. Whether it’s delivering an EV city car under €25,000, pioneering intelligent vehicle architecture, or expanding into commercial electrification, the brand is clearly not content with standing still.

As we look toward 2030, it’s clear that Kia doesn’t just want to be part of the EV era — it wants to define it.

Source: Kia

EV

Porsche Cayenne Electric Brings High Tech and Big Power

In a bold yet balanced move, Porsche has reaffirmed its commitment to internal combustion engines amid the luxury EV sector’s slower-than-expected growth. But make no mistake—the Stuttgart marque is not hitting the brakes on electrification. Case in point: the all-new Porsche Cayenne Electric, captured in fresh spy shots that reveal a near-production-ready prototype ahead of its global debut later this year.

And from what we can see, it’s shaping up to be a technological powerhouse wrapped in unmistakable Porsche style.

Screen-Filled Cockpit

Inside, the Cayenne EV makes it clear that Porsche is embracing the digital age like never before. The dashboard features no fewer than four displays, arranged in a layered layout that blends cutting-edge tech with traditional Porsche cues. A curved, non-touch driver display acts as a configurable gauge cluster, while two touchscreens—one in the center and another directly in front of the passenger—are seamlessly integrated under a single pane of glass, stretching elegantly across two-thirds of the dash.

But the Cayenne goes even further than its Macan Electric sibling by adding a fourth touchscreen on the lower center console, presumably for climate and comfort controls. Physical switches are nearly extinct, save for a few toggle buttons for temperature adjustment and a rotary thumbwheel for volume—likely a nod to those who still appreciate tactile feedback.

Topping the dash is the iconic Porsche Sport Chrono clock, a design touch that has endured since the 997-generation 911. The new Cayenne also adopts the dash-mounted toggle-style gear selector seen in Porsche’s recent four-door models. Interestingly, the center console sports a unique raised design, possibly concealing a wireless smartphone charging tray below.

Familiar Face, New Foundations

The prototype seen in these spy shots wears only light camouflage—just some faux lighting decals and grille stickers—to obscure its final details. But it’s evident that the Cayenne EV will share visual DNA with the Macan Electric, sporting similar front-end treatments and muscular proportions.

More importantly, it rides on a stretched version of Volkswagen Group’s PPE platform, which also underpins the Macan EV and Audi’s Q6 and A6 e-tron models. Unlike an electrified variant of the current gas-powered Cayenne, this is an entirely new vehicle developed from the ground up for battery-electric propulsion.

Powertrain Expectations

Performance specs haven’t been confirmed, but the Cayenne Electric will likely share key drivetrain elements with the Macan EV. Expect it to skip the Macan’s base rear-wheel-drive 335 hp motor and instead launch with dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations starting at 402 hp. A high-performance Turbo variant is all but guaranteed, promising figures well north of the Macan Turbo’s 630 hp output—likely positioning it as the most powerful Cayenne ever made.

Pricing and Launch

The Cayenne Electric is scheduled to be launched in late 2025, with sales starting in 2026. The starting price of the entry-level model is expected to be around $90,000, while turbocharged models will cost over $120,000.

While Porsche may be doubling down on combustion engines for now, the Cayenne EV is proof that the brand’s electric future remains very much in motion—and it’s coming in hot.

Source: Porsche; Photo: SHProshots

Gallery:

Porsche Cayenne Electric Brings High Tech and Big Power