Porsche Cayenne EV Prototype Secretly Smashes Hill Climb Record

A prototype of the upcoming all-electric Porsche Cayenne has secretly competed in the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in the United Kingdom, obliterating the SUV record by a significant four seconds. The camouflaged electric SUV, driven by Gabriela Jilkova, a development driver from Porsche’s Formula E program, completed the 1,000-yard (914-meter) course in just 31.28 seconds.

Record-Breaking Performance

The Cayenne EV’s time of 31.28 seconds is a remarkable achievement. It is four seconds faster than the previous SUV record at Shelsley Walsh, which was held by a Bentley Bentayga W12. Furthermore, the electric Cayenne prototype even managed to outpace Porsche’s fastest production electric car, the Taycan Turbo S, which completed the same climb in 31.43 seconds.

This impressive performance, achieved by a vehicle still in its prototype phase, highlights the instant torque and strong low-end acceleration characteristic of electric powertrains, which are particularly advantageous in hill climb competitions. Despite being a large SUV, the Cayenne EV exhibited minimal body roll, attributed to its low center of gravity from the battery placement and Porsche’s active suspension system.

For context, the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, part of the 2025 British Hill Climb Championship, is the oldest motorsport venue in the world still using its original course, with events dating back to 1905.

Details on the Upcoming Electric Cayenne

While official specifications for the electric Cayenne are still under wraps, this record-breaking run offers a strong indication of its performance capabilities. The battery-powered Cayenne will be based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform, shared with the new Macan EV.

Initially, Porsche had planned for the next-generation Cayenne to be electric-only, but due to recent market adjustments and sales trends, a heavily reworked version of the current gas-powered model will continue to be sold alongside the new EV well into the 2030s.

The electric Cayenne is expected to be officially revealed sometime this year. In addition to the electric Cayenne and Macan, Porsche is also reportedly planning a new flagship seven-seater crossover, codenamed K1, slated for the end of the decade.

EV.com Insight

2025 has already brought a wave of large electric SUVs with third-row seating. Porsche is ready to join the trend with the upcoming Cayenne EV, which, based on early impressions, offers strong performance and the new K1 platform.
Would you hold out for it or choose one of Porsche’s other electric models instead?