New electric car's eye-popping stat: New performance EV can tow as much as a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux and more than a BYD Shark 6 with testing in full swing for 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric SUV

2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric prototype

Porsche’s next electric car is powering through testing as the brand sends a near-production prototype of the Cayenne Electric on a “record-gathering mission”.

The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric has been coming for some time, but details are scarce as the SUV closes in on its proper reveal.

What we do know is that Porsche rates the Cayenne Electric to tow an impressive 3500kg, which is not only plenty for an electric car, but puts it on par with diesel dual-cab utes like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger and more than the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6. The current combustion-powered Cayenne can also tow up to 3500kg braked, but the EV version’s ability to do the same is impressive.

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Porsche's record-gathering mission is a two-parter, one part is a run at the historic Shelsley Walsh hill climb, the other part is having the keys handed to TV presenter Richard Hammond to tow his century-old Lagonda on a trailer.

It should be no surprise the powerful electric SUV put in an impressive time at Shelsley Walsh, especially with TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team development driver Gabriela Jílková behind the wheel.

The 31.28-second sprint was achieved on the first attempt and represents a more-than four-second improvement on the previous record for an SUV — set by a Bentley Bentayga — but we don’t quite have the numbers behind the battery-powered Cayenne’s drivetrain just yet.

Hammond’s Lagonda weighs in at more than two tonnes, Porsche claiming the total towing weight was around three tonnes and Hammond adding that, “you wouldn’t know it – the Cayenne handled it effortlessly”.

2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric prototype

Porsche hasn’t hinted at a potential driving range for the Cayenne Electric, but you can be certain the prototype’s maximum range took a huge hit once it had three tonnes hooked up to the towball.

While it’s unclear when the Cayenne Electric will actually launch globally, Porsche says the camouflaged near-production prototype will be on show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed which kicks off this week and runs over the weekend, from 10 to 13 July.