Porsche Charges $19,500 to Save Just 39 Pounds on the Cayenne EV

More for Less

Here we are again with the Porsche packages and their ridiculous options. You can pick up the full story of the new Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric here, and I do recommend you look at that first before coming back to this article to get the full context. Don't worry, I can wait.

Anyway, have you read it? Okay, now that you're back, you will know that Porsche launched a beast of an electric SUV with over 1,000 horsepower in launch control mode and a new roofline that is inspired by the 911 and puts all other German manufacturers to shame, at least for now.

The press release mentioned a "Lightweight Sport Package," and based on the itemized list Porsche provided, it looks like an interesting bit of kit, but the most embarrassing stat line the package delivers is that it only shaves 38.8 pounds from the already hefty EV.

When I talked about this with my friends, I related it to the size of a medium-sized dog, and when I asked them to guess the price of this option, they said "about $5,000" – boy, were they off. The package is by no means an extreme option, and to the untrained eye, it may even go unnoticed.

How Much Does It Cost?

According to the Porsche configurator for the U.S., the Cayenne Coupe Electric in its base trim will run you about $113,800 on its own – No other options, no taxes, tariffs, or dealer markups, just a base Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric – at least according to the configurator. Prices go up from there, starting at $131,200 for the Cayenne S Coupe Electric and $168,000 for the Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric.

Okay, so let's say that you start with a Cayenne Coupe Electric. With the Lightweight Sport Package, you're expected to pay an additional $19,510, and that allows you to drive around with your medium-sized dog without much of a weight penalty. For the amount you pay to avail of this package for the base Cayenne Coupe, you'll get these things according to the configurator:

• 22-inch Cayenne Sport Wheels in Anthracite Grey (Forged Alloy)
• 22-inch performance Summer tires ($660 additional)
• Leather Interior in Black with Pepita Seat Centers in Fabric
• Roof Lining in Race-Tex
• Heated GT Sport Steering Wheel in Race-Tex
• Interior Trim in Matte Carbon Fiber
• Lightweight Fixed Carbon Fiber Roof
• Side Skirts in High Gloss Black with Carbon Fiber Inlays
• Distinct SportDesign Lower Front Fascia in High-Gloss Black with inlay in exterior color
• Wheel arch covers in High Gloss Black
• Distinct SportDesign lower rear fascia in High Gloss Black with diffuser in exterior color
• 2+1 Rear Seat System (Not Listed)

You also lose a bunch of things in the name of weight savings, like the fixed Panoramic Roof in Glass, the 21-inch Aero Design Wheels, and the standard trimmings for the base model Cayenne, among a bunch of other things. If you want a "discount" of sorts, you can get two for the price of two by availing of the Premium Package and the Lightweight Sport Package combo for $26,610. This is cheaper than availing of the two separately by $190 – a no-brainer, am I right?

Just an Arm Higher Up

Oddly enough, if you try to configure a Cayenne S, the Lightweight Sport Package is nowhere to be found. It makes an appearance again in the Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric, but instead of costing an arm and a leg, it only costs an arm in the top-of-the-line trim, at just $11,020, which sounds like a bargain until you realize that the Turbo variant already costs $168,000 MSRP.

Why is it cheaper in the Turbo? It seems like there's less to change when you're already up there. The best upgrade here will be the wheels. My guess is that the 22-inch forged alloy wheel upgrade costs more if you're coming from a set of 21-inch wheels on the base Cayenne Coupe Electric. The Turbo already comes with a set of 22s from the factory, albeit not forged aluminum. Also, the most labor-intensive option there would probably be the carbon roof. It's saving weight in all the right places, up top where the mass is farthest from the center of mass, but do you really need something like that in an SUV?

Save Money or Save Weight?

At this point, the numbers aren't making sense. You'll be paying the price of a small car just to lose the equivalent of a medium-sized dog, a piece of luggage, or a four-year-old child. Not to mention that this is a family vehicle, so what meaningful driving experience upgrade will this package deliver? I think only Porsche can beat that explanation into me, but they haven't flamed my inboxes for now – or at least not yet.

I will admit that a carbon roof is cool, and so too are the forged alloy wheels, plus all of the additional trim pieces that have been meticulously engineered (cooler if you had decals that could disappear on demand). However, on an SUV, the package is questionable, and the gains appear marginal at best. Maybe instead of buying the package, consider leaving the family and the dog at home if you don't want to compromise on your 0 to 60 times.

Maybe years down the line (I doubt it), a Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric or Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric with this package will be a collector's item and worth a few hundred or thousand dollars more in the second-hand market, but I won't hold my breath. Porsche will be Porsche, I guess.

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