At 5,831 pounds (2,645 kg), the Pepper Electric is Porsche’s heaviest production vehicle ever. As you can imagine, a good portion of that heft comes from the gargantuan 113kWh battery, which itself weighs 1,322lbs (600kg). In his early days, Zuffenhausen had an entire car that weighed more than the battery: the 1951 356 SL (Sportlite), a Le Mans-winning race car that weighed just 88 pounds (40 kg).
But Porsche says you shouldn’t worry about the Cayenne weighing up to two dozen Caymans. Michael Scheitzel, vice president of the Cayenne line-up, told The Australian magazine Drive That’s because drivers won’t actually feel the electric SUV’s considerable weight thanks to the positioning of the battery.
‘Battery weight is very low. It is at the center of gravity of the car. To be fair, a heavier battery helps the car perform better and handle better. We have new tires, new axles, active ride system. The car feels lighter than the Ice model. ‘
A red pepper with a V-8 isn’t quite as light. At 5,666 lbs (2,570 kg) for the European model, it’s only 165 lbs (75 kg) lighter than its electric sibling. Both Ice and EV models will coexist peacefully for a long time. Porsche has already promised that the V-8 will remain part of the portfolio into the 2030s, even continuing in Europe, with updates to meet the upcoming Euro 7 standard.
Photo by: Porsche
Scottsley’s analogy didn’t end with the weight comparison, as he also praised the EV’s off-road capabilities. With the quick response of electric motors and the flexibility to adjust power delivery, the Red Pepper Electric is a “much better than snow” road.
Still, it’s unclear how many cayenne buyers, gas or electric, actually care about leaving the asphalt. The original model had all sorts of off-road hardware, including a low-range transfer case and an optional locking rear differential. These features were dropped in later generations to save weight, and we haven’t heard many complaints about the RoadFocus since the second generation arrived in 2010.
Porsche is also working on an even bigger and possibly heavier electric Luxebridge. The three-row SUV codenamed “K1” was initially planned as an EV-only model. However, it will debut with combustion engines first, a decision less than the expected EV adoption. Outgoing Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said the change reflected “new market realities and changing customer demands”.
85
Source: Porsche
