Automakers are quickly entering the large all-electric SUV segment. Mercedes-Benz has the EQS SUV, BMW has the iX and Rivian offers the R1S. The segment is heating up and Porsche wants in on the action. At least, that’s the news buswhich reports that the German luxury brand is looking to introduce a seven-passenger off-road luxury SUV that will have an all-electric powertrain in 2027.
The all-electric vehicle, codenamed K1, will be similar in size to the Cayenne, but will have a design that is part sedan and part crossover. We’re not sure what that means, but the outlet claims it will look just like anything else in the Porsche lineup. The electric vehicle will use Volkswagen’s PPE architecture, which is what will be used in the upcoming electric Porsche Cayman, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q6 e-tron and Audi A6 e-tron.
In addition to allowing Porsche to enter a new segment, the electric vehicle will have a new electrical system that will have a capacity of 920 volts, reports the outlet. The 920-volt architecture would allow for even faster charge times than currently available with 800-volt systems and allow for improved cooling. The SUV is expected to pack a 100 kWh battery, which will have a target range of up to 435 miles on the WLTP cycle.
Interestingly, Porsche is also looking to make the K1 EV off-road capable. The SUV is expected to have four-wheel steering, adjustable air suspension to raise the ride height and, we must assume, a high-tech all-wheel drive system. The rugged nature of the vehicle should translate into its design, which should be more rugged than Porsche’s current lineup of sports offerings.
Obviously, the big news is that the upcoming electric vehicle will seat seven people. That’s a big deal for Porsche, which doesn’t have a three-row SUV in its lineup right now. The mid-size Cayenne is the largest SUV the automaker sells, and it’s only available with two rows of seats.
As you might expect, a three-row Porsche with off-road capability and a high-tech all-electric powertrain won’t come cheap. bus claims the vehicle will cost around $180,000. That would make it significantly more expensive than the BMW iX, MB EQS and Rivian R1S, but in the same realm as the new BMW XM and high-performance options from Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ferrari.
Porsche’s Macan and Cayenne SUVs are some of its most popular vehicles. It makes perfect sense that the automaker is venturing into the three-row segment with a seven-seater. With automakers abandoning internal combustion engines for electric powertrains, it’s no surprise that the vehicle is an EV. We’ll have to wait and see what kind of design, performance and interior space the K1 EV will have, but it’s a vehicle to keep an eye on.
Source: Autocar
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