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Porsche Is Stepping Into Its Own Uncharted Territory with Its Next Big Move

A big, three-row crossover SUV isn’t quite what’s expected from the company that gave us the 911.

Front side view of a metallic blue Porsche SUV showing the headlight and black alloy wheel with silver spokes.Porsche
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By Chris Chin

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Automakers can still not resist the crossover SUV craze, as Porsche is reportedly exhibiting. Zuffenhausen’s finest is looking to tap into the big, luxe seven-seater segment currently dominated by the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

According to AutoCar, Porsche wants to tap into the same resources that Audi’s using to build its new Q9. Over the past several months, Audi announced its ambitions to build a bigger SUV that would slot above the Q7.

Now, Porsche could be spawning its own variant, similar to how the Cayenne came to existence from the Q7.

At least it won’t be all-electric

Blue Porsche SUV driving on a winding road with rocky hills and mountains in the background.
Despite making an all-electric Cayenne, Porsche’s still sticking to internal combustion for its new big SUV.
Porsche

Rumors of a big seven-seat Porsche began circulating over the past couple of years. It was supposedly a part of the automaker’s plans to move toward an all-electric lineup.

Meaning, the original goal was to build a big, three-row, all-electric sporty crossover, similar to Audi’s attempt with the Q9. However, given the lukewarm market and iffy charging infrastructure for EVs, both Audi and Porsche have backtracked on those electrification initiatives.

Blue Porsche Cayenne SUV driving on a dusty dirt road in a flat, open landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
The Cayenne is currently the largest SUV Porsche’s ever made, but that may change very soon.
Porsche

So now, both the Q9 and its Porsche cousin will be sticking to internal combustion for the time being.

This wouldn’t be the first time Porsche badge-engineered an Audi to make its own version. The most notable example is the Cayenne, as it borrows from the same platform that underpins the Volkswagen Touareg, the Audi Q7 and even the Bentley Bentayga.

Blue Porsche SUV driving on a dusty dirt road with headlights on under a partly cloudy sky.
Like the Cayenne, Porsche’s new three-row will utilize Audi bones, more specifically, the Q9.
Porsche

It’s the same story with the Macan, which is basically a Porsche-ified Audi Q5. So, Porsche taking Audi’s future Q9 and making its own big SUV from it isn’t an unusual move.

Expect big V6 and V8 power

Rear view of a dark blue Porsche Cayenne showing the Porsche logo and red tail light strip.
Porsche purists hated the Cayenne when it first debuted, but it has since become one of the brand’s best-sellers.
Porsche

Because this new big SUV will be a Porsche, performance takes a front seat as it’s paramount to the brand’s core principless. As a result, power-hungry fans will be happy to learn that the new SUV will come with big V6 and V8 power.

Besides their necessity to motivate a big mass, the engines are needed to satisfy the typical Porsche experience. It’s also a move to compete against direct rivals, which rely on six- and eight-cylinder go-power.

Dark green Porsche Cayenne SUV driving on a highway with mountains and city buildings in the background at dusk.
Similar to the Cayenne, expect big turbo V6 and V8 power with Porsche’s new seven-seater.
Porsche

At the moment, specifics aren’t available. However, speculation suggests a power range between 348 horsepower and as much as 730, depending on the engine and trim.

The lower end of the output spectrum will likely come from the V6 variants. The top-end will be reserved for any GTS or Turbo models that could arise, with a few in-betweeners mixed in — just like the current Cayenne range.

Front right headlight and grille of a blue Porsche car with illuminated LED lights.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz both proved that affluent families want big, luxe SUVs, so Porsche’s jumping in on the action.
Porsche

Although Audi and Porsche are shelving full electrification for now, gas-electric hybridization is still a real possibility. Currently, the Cayenne offers three internal combustion-only models and three gas-electric hybrid trims.

Porsche also just recently launched the Cayenne Electric.

When can we expect it? Sometime in 2028, with Audi’s version coming out a little sooner.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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