Porsche presented the new generation of its Cayenne model in the Dominican Republic, introducing for the first time a fully electric version of the sport utility vehicle that marked a historic turning point for the brand in 2002 as its first foray into sports off-roaders.
The German automaker unveiled the new electric Cayenne at a press event in Santo Domingo, where it was displayed alongside the Cayenne E-Hybrid, which pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Both vehicles were shown together so attendees could compare their design and technology.
A sports car brand turns to electric power
Jacinto Peynado, chief executive of Porsche Center Santo Domingo, and Alfredo Nin addressed the press at the event, recalling that the original Cayenne represented a break with tradition for a company that had spent more than 70 years building sports cars exclusively.
Peynado and Nin said the brand's message at the time was that it could also build a sports off-roader, and that premise led Porsche to break its own mold. Since then, they said, the Cayenne has remained one of the brand's flagship models, capable of handling all types of terrain with a character the executives described as combining delicacy and aggressiveness.
Porsche is a German sports car manufacturer with a history stretching back more than seven decades, built on models such as the 911. The Cayenne, launched in 2002, was the company's first sport utility vehicle and expanded its lineup beyond two-door sports cars.
Design and performance of the new Cayenne
Peynado said the electric Cayenne has a more futuristic and aerodynamic design compared with the traditional gasoline model.
Both new versions share a power output of 468 horsepower, but they draw their energy differently. The Cayenne E-Hybrid combines gasoline and electricity, while the fully electric Cayenne runs solely on its electric motor and offers a range of up to 642 kilometers, which Porsche says exceeds that of a conventional gasoline model.
A 400-kilometer test of the electric Cayenne's range
Peynado described his experience testing the vehicle's range on a roughly 400-kilometer drive from Haina to Las Terrenas, in Portillo, during which he said the electric Cayenne's battery performance was confirmed over the full distance.
Peynado and Nin said range remains one of the main concerns for customers considering an electric vehicle, who often ask whether the car would get them to destinations such as Puerto Plata, Punta Cana or Miches and back without running out of charge along the way.
