In pictures: Porsche Cayenne Electric

The new Cayenne has faced criticism for feeling un-Porsche-like, perhaps eschewing traditional cues around the hips and tail lamps. Perceived issues are always amplified in images, often highlighting 'flaws' and allowing for direct side-by-side comparison. In person, those perceived flaws somehow feel far less pronounced, at least in the case of the new Cayenne Electric.

It is true that the body and lights in particular are very different to the first and second generations of the Cayenne. The car has shifted significantly since its launch in 2022. But compared to the most recent prior generation (Gen. 3) the new electric version really doesn't feel like the seismic shift images would present. That is this writer's opinion from a walkaround of the "Turbo" (sigh) and standard variant of the Cayenne Electric revealed on 1 Dec. 

It is also worth nothing that, viewed in the bright and airy showroom in central London among a handful of other contemporary Porsches, the new Cayenne looks very much part of the family and manages its physical bulk well. This is not some grotesquely oversized hauler and any concerns around a lack of rear muscle are unfounded.

The standard car on display was fitted with some nicely finished black and 'machined silver' aero wheels while the Turbo carried a set of ten-spokes in Turbonite, a mix of bronze and anthracite. Both sets are 22 inches and rear tyres are in Countach territory at 315mm wide. 

Aero touches can be seen to the front and rear, particularly on the Turbo, where low vents in the front mask can open or close to cool the battery as needed. They are more subtle than the vertical 'Porsche Active Aero' wings that sit at either side of the rear bumper. If it was visual width you were after, they certainly emphasise its stoutness. 

The interior is a story of two halves, with the driver's seat and cockpit overall feeling rather compact, and lovers of screens will delight as there is plenty of that going on. We are not sure about the creased vertical display which reminded us of early attempts at folding smartphones. By the time we sat in the car, a litany of fingerprints had already made their mark, too. 

Passengers in the second row enjoy a huge amount of breathing space and legroom, with very little visible technology on show by contrast (save for the usual HVAC controls). A huge panoramic sunroof floods the interior with, in this case, artificial light from the showroom. Materials feel are one would expect of a car well north of £100,000 (£157,431 for the Turbo on show; £110,979 for the standard version, both with plenty of optional extras). 

Although it did not seem to get much attention on the night, there was a special edition Porsche Design watch on display to commemorate the launch of the Cayenne Electric. The custom-built chronograph with a black and white dial does not seem to have inspired the dash-mounted clock in the Turbo however. 

New generations are usually polarising. It will be interesting to see what story the sales figures tell in coming months after deliveries begin.