If anyone expected Porsche would be one of the types leading the charge on plug-in hybrids back when Chevrolet launched the Volt in 2010-just as Porsche was debuting its first-ever production hybrid with the Cayenne-that person should be dealing futures on Wall Street. By replacing that SUV with this 2015 Cayenne S E-Hybrid plug-in, Porsche now has three plug-ins, more than any other car maker. Of course, among those three is a 918 Spyder, which isn’t exactly mainstream production. But still.
To get the Cayenne to plug-in status, Porsche basically grafted within the Panamera E-Hybrid’s high-voltage battery, electric motor, and power electronics, upping the lithium-ion battery capacity to 10.8 kWh on the sedan’s 9.4. Otherwise, the powertrain is identical, through the Audi-sourced supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 on the Aisin eight-speed automatic. Torque is routed to all four wheels using a limited-slip center differential utilizing a rear-biased (58-percent) torque distribution.
The rest of the car is similar on the recently revamped Cayenne, with some exceptions. The 282-pound battery, containing of 104 individual cells, consumes the space normally available to a spare tire. Versus other Cayennes, the $77,395 E-Hybrid has two additional buttons on its center console. Selecting “E-Charge” prioritizes replenishing a depleted battery so future electric driving is achievable. This increases fuel consumption by about 20 percent, in line with Porsche. In “E-Power” mode, though, the Cayenne moves solely in the single electric motor at speeds up to 78 mph. This ability is mainly directed at European markets, where it enables users to prevent congestion fees in certain cities. Americans are able to utilize this silent-running mode to sneak standing on friends or, at the very least, valets.
Anytime a Cayenne starts, it’s in E-Power mode by default, assuming there is enough juice within the battery. Porsche claims that charging with a 240-volt hookup takes about three-and-a-half hours with the standard 3.6-kW charger; an optional 7.2-kW unit can cut that to 90 minutes assuming you have admission to a high-voltage feed.
Driving in a city makes it hard to wish for more power compared to electric motor produces. Maximum acceleration along with 416 gas-and-electric horses should return a zero-to-60-mph sprint well below six seconds, along with a quarter-mile will pass in just over 14 ticks, based on Porsche. No too shabby for a two-and-a-half ton ute.
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