Porsche Takes Its 1,156 PS Cayenne Electric Off-Road. Because Apparently It Can

Taking a 1,156 PS electric Porsche onto rocky trails sounds like an expensive way to discover where the nearest repair shop is. Yet that’s exactly what Porsche has been doing in Cappadocia, Turkey, with its new Cayenne Electric.

And not just the Turbo. All three versions joined the trip.

Cappadocia is famous for its volcanic landscape, steep valleys and hot-air balloons. It’s also full of uneven tracks that don’t look particularly welcoming to a large luxury SUV.

Porsche clearly wanted something more challenging than another acceleration demonstration.

The Cayenne Turbo Electric already has enough performance to make its point on asphalt. With 1,500 Nm of torque, it reaches 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. Nobody buying one is likely to complain about a lack of straight-line speed.

But getting that power onto loose gravel is another matter.

All three versions use electric all-wheel drive, with torque distributed electronically between the axles. There are dedicated Gravel/Mud, Sand and Rock settings, allowing the driver to adapt the vehicle to different surfaces.

The air suspension does some useful work here too.

Raise it to its highest off-road position and ground clearance reaches 245 mm. The optional Off-road Package adds protection underneath and increases the front approach angle to 25 degrees.

That’s a rather different specification from the one usually associated with a 2.5-second SUV.

Porsche also brought a trailer carrying a hot-air balloon into the demonstration. Depending on specification, the Cayenne Electric can tow up to 3.5 tons.

Of course, moving a heavy trailer places considerable demands on an electric drivetrain.

The Cayenne’s 113-kWh battery is cooled from above and below. S and Turbo models also have an oil-cooled rear motor, while regenerative braking can reach 600 kW.

Then there’s the 800-volt charging system, capable of accepting up to 400 kW under suitable conditions.

Those figures are impressive, although they don’t tell us how the SUV behaves after several hours on difficult terrain. Porsche’s organized demonstration isn’t the same as an independent endurance test.

Still, there’s a reason the company chose Cappadocia rather than another racetrack.

The original Cayenne helped establish the idea that a Porsche could carry a family, tow a trailer and handle rough roads without abandoning performance.

The electric version is attempting much the same balancing act, only with considerably more power and a battery underneath.

Most owners won’t need Rock mode very often. But knowing it’s there might matter more than shaving another tenth off an already ridiculous acceleration time.