- Porsche just quietly confirmed the gas-powered Cayenne lives on, and considering the brand lost 98% of its profits after its electric pivot, that's less about tradition and more about survival.
- The electric Cayenne dazzles every journalist who drives it for free, but at over $160,000, the enthusiasm evaporates the moment real buyers have to open their wallets.
- What's coming next borrows heavily from Audi's playbook and could bring 911-style electrification tech to the SUV, but Porsche is hedging so hard that even its own SUV director speaks in "maybe's." If you're cross-shopping luxury SUVs right now, Porsche's internal tug-of-war between gas and electric could reshape what hits dealer lots — and at what price — for the rest of the decade.
Porsche is not giving up on the gas-powered Cayenne. Which is probably a wise move.
We now have the first-ever electric Cayenne, and reviewers love it. But car enthusiasts hate it. It’s fast, fun to drive, and jam-packed with tech, so whoever had the opportunity to drive it for free was very much enjoying the experience. However, the models they are testing are over $160,000, barring most people from really wanting it at all. The gas-powered Cayenne is expensive too, to be fair, but if Porsche is hoping to convince people to switch to EVs, it’s gonna be hard at this price range.
Amid all the Cayenne EV hype, many car enthusiasts wondered whether Porsche would still offer the internal combustion engine version. Luckily, it’s been confirmed that the next-generation Cayenne will still have a gas-powered option.
What we know about the next-gen Cayenne
Not a lot is known about the next-gen Porsche Cayenne, but that’s because we may have to wait a few years. It’s expected to arrive in 2028, maybe even 2029. However, Porsche’s SUV Lines Director, Ralf Keller, told Auto Express that the company plans to offer combustion engines and hybrids “far into the next decade.”
The current Cayenne generation has been around since 2018, so we are expecting some decently sized changes. When it comes to its appearance, we have already seen a camouflaged gas-powered Cayenne driving through the snow. We can make out a pretty boxy, thick front end. Not much else to report there yet. Sorry. Very anti-climactic.
One thing we have some insight into is new technology. Keller said: “We have the chance to integrate Active Ride into the ICE [car]; the Cayenne doesn’t have that. That could be one thing. And then maybe you know the technique of the 911, of electrification, maybe this is something that would also work with a new Cayenne. It’s not a clear plan now, but there are many technical things that we can put into the ICE Cayenne.”
Still, that’s a lot of maybe’s.
We also know it will run a version of Audi’s new PPC platform, with the next-gen Cayenne taking many features and technologies from the Audi Q7, which is coming out later this year. It’s basically a very updated version of the MLB-Evo platform, but nothing is going to be jarringly different there. We also know that the next-gen Cayenne will not change in size, remaining mid-sized.
It’s not the most riveting information, but at least we know Porsche isn’t giving up on gas-powered vehicles just yet. The real question is, will the next-generation Cayenne also come in electric?
America is losing interest in luxury electric vehicles due to their high cost and rapid depreciation as new technologies emerge. Porsche found that out the hard way, losing 98% of its profits in 2025 after pivoting to an electric plan. This was due to “intense competition” in the EV segment in China, as well as other countries losing interest in the luxury segment. In 2025, Porsche only sold 4,142 Taycans to the United States and 16,339 worldwide, a 22% decline since 2024. It’s almost like the average American can’t afford a Taycan, especially with the chaotic job market, economy, and tariffs.
As a result, Porsche said it would focus more on its sportier options, thinning its lineup. Will the electric Cayenne make the cut? Or will it only come in gas and hybrid options? If the EV Cayenne is going to continue, Porsche may want to consider a redesign that doesn’t so eerily resemble BYD’s vehicles.
