Porsche CEO Oliver Blume announced plans to expand the lineup by adding a new SUV above the Macan and Cayenne in mid-2022. The electric-only model will be manufactured in Leipzig, Germany, and will target a higher-end market segment with higher profit margins.
The upcoming vehicle, codenamed “K1,” will feature styling that will represent the new direction Porsche is taking in terms of design. The new SUV will not resemble any of their current offerings in terms of aesthetics.
While a Cayenne starts at $76,855 in the UK, the seven-seat electric SUV is expected to be three times more expensive before options with prices said to be around $200,000.
The new SUV has been in development since 2020 on the Porsche-Audi Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture. PPE will debut with the next-generation, all-electric Macan and Q6 E-Tron, but the new electric SUV will use an evolution of the dedicated EV platform, according to Autocar.
The three-row SUV is said to have a 920V electric system offering faster charging and a large battery pack with a capacity exceeding 100 kWh, plus a maximum range of 435 miles (700 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle. Oil cooling for the electric motors is also in the mix as is all-wheel steering with a five-degree turn of the rear wheels.
In terms of styling, anticipate a “part sedan, part crossover” silhouette reminiscent of the Cayenne Coupe or the Panamera. It could be over five meters long, with a short hood and a liftback-style tailgate. The SUV will also have a dedicated off-road driving mode.
Finally when it does arrive, the K1’s primary markets will be North America and China.