The inevitable has happened, but painfully so: the fourth generation of the Porsche Cayenne officially abdicates gasoline, becoming yet another crossover swallowed by the electric wave. Yes, Porsche continues to produce its ICE predecessor in parallel, but the fact remains - the iconic beast is now electric, and this brings with it a bitter aftertaste for every true car fan of the brand.
Of course, the German manufacturer is pouring billions into marketing to convince us that this is the most powerful production model in the brand's history. And the numbers are impressive: a range of over 600 km and a hyperspeed sprint. But can we call something Porsche that is devoid of the characteristic throaty roar of a six- or eight-cylinder engine?
Visually, the new Cayenne looks familiar, retaining its massive silhouette. But upon closer inspection, it is already somewhat sterile, devoid of the brutality of previous generations. The designers have borrowed a number of details from the smaller Porsche Macan - as if to show that they are now all in one cube. The nose is more pronounced, the headlights have become thinner, and at the back the lights are connected by a diode strip - a vision that is now commonplace for every second electric crossover.
Aerodynamics, that modern religious dogma, is leading. The drag coefficient of 0.25 is excellent, but achieved at the cost of active aero elements and a unified shape that puts efficiency before emotion.
And inside, instead of focusing on the raw connection between driver and machine, the 2026 Cayenne immerses us in a world of pixels. The interior has been transformed into a three-way digital altar: a 14.25-inch virtual dashboard, a 14.5-inch central screen and an absurd 14.9-inch screen for the passenger. Add to this an augmented reality head-up display, an AI voice assistant and even the ability to play computer games.
Previous generations of Cayenne were a symbol of luxury, but also of driver engagement. Now they have been transformed into a multimedia room designed to entertain everyone except perhaps the most die-hard fan of the brand, who is thirsty for an authentic feeling.
Now comes the power - the strongest argument, but also the most bitter pill. The top Porsche Cayenne Turbo (whose name is already an oxymoron) has a twin-engine unit that generates 1,156 hp and 1,500 Nm. The sprint to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds is surgically precise and brutal, but clinical. It lacks the drama of ignition, the explosion in the cylinders and the mechanical fury that accompanied the real petrol Turbo S. It is simply a momentary electric boost that is available in every other high-speed electric car.
Although a 113 kWh battery provides a range of over 600 km and an 800-volt architecture allows for fast charging, all this technological ingenuity serves only the need to compensate for the loss of the engine. The 2026 Cayenne can also tow a 3.5-ton trailer and turn with the rear wheels, but it has become too smart, too clean and too perfect to be a real Porsche. This is the age of silent sadness, where technical superiority has been achieved at the cost of the automotive soul.