TESTED 19.10.23, BARCELONA, SPAIN ON SALE NOW - PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO E-HYBRID

Most powerful Cayenne yet is the new range-topper for a facelifted line-up

- GREG KABLE

The roll-out of the facelifted Porsche Cayenne is a work in progress. Initial models were launched in September and included the updated E-Hybrid. Now Porsche is extending the electrification of its upmarket SUV with two even more powerful petrol-electric plug-in hybrids: the S E-Hybrid and Turbo E-Hybrid.

It's the latter, the performance flagship of the refreshed Cayenne line-up, that we're driving here. Developed as a successor to the Turbo S E-Hybrid, it's being sold in both conventional SUV and coupé-SUV body styles, offering the promise of super car-crushing performance and a vastly improved electric-only range.

There's also an optional GT package, which introduces a series of lightweight components from the Turbo GT (a model no longer sold in the UK) for even sharper dynamic ability, although only in combination with the more sporting Coupé body style.

We initially drove a prototype of the Turbo E-Hybrid in Germany back in July. It was clear back then that it was a rather accomplished piece of engineering and heroically fast in the right conditions. This time, we're in the final production car and tackling very challenging roads in Spain.

At the heart of this new range topper is a heavily reworked version of Porsche's 4.0-litre V8. With new single-scroll turbochargers, electric wastegates, a 350bar fuel injection system and a two-stage variable valve-lift system, among other detailed changes, it alone delivers 591bhp and 590lb ft of torque.

The petrol engine is supported by a new disc-shaped synchronous electric motor. Mounted within the forward section of an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it develops 40bhp and 371b ft more than the unit used by the old Turbo S E-Hybrid, at 174bhp and 331lb ft.