What's all this about?

Porsche has confirmed that the next-generation Cayenne, the fourth in the SUV's 20-year-plus lineage, will be an all-electric model (EV), following a similar template set by the smaller Macan as it transitioned from its Mk1 to Mk2 formats this year. However, in an intriguing step, the current third-gen Cayenne will remain on sale alongside the newbie until 2030, to provide customers with the option of still going for either a pure internal-combustion engine (ICE) set-up or, alternatively, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Seriously? It's like when Renault used to sell the 5 Campus alongside the Clio!

Well... kind of, although you're stretching credibility in the extreme with that analogy. Anyway, yes, the German company has confirmed the incoming all-new Cayenne will sit on an evolution of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) chassis, with its 800-volt architecture. PPE, though, cannot accept ICE in any form, even as part of a PHEV drivetrain, so in order to satisfy customers who still want an engine in their Cayenne, the current car will be retained - albeit, in the words of the company itself, "further developed with major technological investment in the future". Indeed, Porsche subjected the Mk3 Cayenne to one of the most extensive product upgrades in the company's history last year, in order to keep the big SUV fresh. Good news for V8 fans: the 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine was explicitly mentioned by Porsche in this announcement, with the carmaker saying extensive technical measures will ensure that this engine is "ready to comply with future legislative requirements".

Right. So what's the deal with the electric one?

Porsche, as a company, is committed to electromobility, despite the assurance of the ICE and PHEV Cayennes continuing for the next five-and-a-bit years, as witnessed by the Macan joining the Taycan in its EV product ranks. Oliver Blume, the CEO of Porsche, said: "Our product strategy could enable us to deliver more than 80 per cent of our new cars fully electrified in 2030 - depending on the demand of our customers and the development of electromobility in the regions of the world."

And the next-gen Cayenne will be a big part of that, as Blume added: "The Cayenne has always defined the sports car in its segment. In the middle of the decade, the fourth generation will set standards in the segment as an electric SUV."

But, he was keen to stress, "at the same time, into the next decade our customers will still be able to choose from a wide range of powerful and efficient combustion and hybrid models", the Cayenne included.

OK, have we got anything else on the electric Cayenne?

Precious little details this far out, although Michael Steiner, the member of Porsche's board for R&D, said: "The flexibility of the PPE architecture allows us to integrate the latest technology in the fields of high-voltage systems, powertrain and chassis. We are going to utilise the potential of electrification to take the Cayenne to a completely new level in a number of ways - for instance, in driving performance."

That last bit sounds good. So when can we expect the Mk4 Cayenne?

The first camouflaged prototypes have already left the Porsche factory, which means they're leaving the proving grounds of the Weissach Development Centre and heading into the real world for durability testing, which will incorporate millions of test miles in the process. That could mean the production version is ready to launch next year, although the Mk4's arrival could slip back to 2026 depending on various factors. Michael Schätzle, the vice-president for the Cayenne product line, said: "The real-world testing has begun, and this is one of the most important milestones of the development process. In this way, we ensure the durability and reliability of the hardware, the software and all the car's functions in accordance with our high-quality standards."