Porsche is on a mission. With the much-awaited all-electric Cayenne edging closer to its official launch, the German marque isn’t just promising performance but also proving it. In a move that blends heritage motorsport with cutting-edge EV tech, Porsche recently took a near-production Cayenne Electric prototype to the legendary Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in England.
And the result? A record-breaking performance that signals the arrival of a new kind of electric SUV.
Hill Climb Hero: Breaking Records at Shelsley Walsh
For those unfamiliar, Shelsley Walsh is no ordinary venue. It’s the oldest motorsport event still running on its original course — a narrow, unforgiving ribbon of tarmac that has tested the limits of man and machine since 1905. The course measures just 914 metres, with gradients as steep as 16.7%. Mistakes aren’t welcome here.
Behind the wheel of the camouflaged Cayenne was Gabriela Jílková, simulator and development driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. Her mission: push the SUV to the edge. Unsurprisingly, she delivered. On her first attempt, she crushed the existing SUV record by over four seconds, clocking a time of just 31.28 seconds. That’s serious pace for a vehicle this size.
But perhaps the most eye-opening stat came just seconds into the run. The Cayenne Electric crossed the 60-foot marker in just 1.94 seconds — a number usually clocked by single-seater race cars on slicks. The Cayenne prototype wore regular summer tyres.
Porsche Active Ride: Suspension Tech from the Future
What made this performance possible? A big factor was Porsche Active Ride, the brand’s next-gen active suspension system. It keeps the car level during acceleration, braking, and cornering. There’s no dive, no squat, and minimal body roll, even on a twisty hill climb.
Michael Schätzle, VP of the Cayenne product line, summed it up: “Porsche Active Ride significantly expands the range between driving dynamics and ride comfort.”
That’s a polite way of saying it’s both savage and smooth — something rare in the SUV world.
Real-World Strength: Towing Like a Champ
It’s not all about records and racetracks. Porsche also showed off the Cayenne Electric’s practical side with the help of renowned TV presenter Richard Hammond, who towed a 100-year-old car weighing more than two tonnes with the electric SUV.
The total trailer load was close to three tonnes. Still, the Cayenne didn’t break a sweat. “You wouldn’t know it — we were trailing significant weight behind us, but the Cayenne handled it effortlessly,” Hammond noted.
Porsche is aiming for a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, putting it on par with the combustion-engined Cayenne. That’s no small feat for a battery-electric vehicle.
Porsche Cayenne EV: Electric Power For The Future
While Porsche continues to develop its combustion and hybrid Cayennes, the electric variant is set to raise the bar. According to Schätzle, the Cayenne Electric will hit new performance levels only made possible through electrification. However, the petrol-powered Cayenne will still remain in production even after the EV model is launched.
After stealing the show at Shelsley Walsh, the prototype made a public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, tackling the hillclimb once again with Gabriela Jílková behind the wheel. The Cayenne EV is expected to be revealed without camouflage for the very first time at the IAA Mobility in Munich this September.
So, if you’re wondering whether an EV can be fast, practical, and still wear a Porsche badge with pride, the Cayenne Electric proves a point. The electric Porsche 718 models are expected to arrive in 2026, further driving the point home.
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