Porsche Cayenne Electric being tested under digital and real-world conditions

We've already seen several photos of the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric thanks to our spy photographers, who were able to take photos on not one but two separate occasions. Despite Porsche's best efforts to hide what it looks like, our spies managed to get clear photos of the all-electric crossover SUV.

Now, the Stuttgart-based automaker has released the first official photos of the yet-to-be-launched Cayenne Electric (AKA Cayenne EV), and boy, is Porsche busy putting it through the ringer. You read right, the Cayenne Electric is being tested in various conditions and temperatures in real-time and virtually to fully push the EV to its limits before it's unveiled to the public.

From the scorching heat to the freezing cold, as well as in various terrains, Porsche is fully committed to the development and testing of the Cayenne Electric. But thanks to the wonders of modern technology and intelligent AI simulations, Porsche was able to test the Cayenne Electric in digital form before proceeding to physical prototypes. In fact, Porsche said that instead of building 120 test vehicles as before, they were largely replaced by digital equivalents, which translates to reduced costs while still focusing on the development.

“This project was the first in which we moved directly from digital whole-vehicle testing to pre-series production,” said Dr. Michael Steiner, Deputy Chairman and Member of the Executive Board Research and Development.

Beyond that, a new composite bench test was developed to test the drive system, battery, and energy management systems under realistic conditions. With it, Porsche was able to test the powertrain without having to use a test vehicle during the initial stages of testing & development. These include simulating different road conditions, acceleration resistance, and forces experienced during recuperation and braking.

Despite the benefits of digital simulations, Porsche still believes that final testing will have to be done in the real world by humans. That means after the simulations are done, the next stage is to test the entire vehicle in real-world conditions, which include city, on the highway, or off-road. That way, the Cayenne Electric is tested in all realistic scenarios.

“In reality, only humans can perform the finishing touches,” said Sascha Niesen, Team Leader Overall Vehicle Testing at the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach.

Last but not least, endurance tests were also done to ensure the Cayenne Electric can endure thousands of kilometers in both ideal and extreme conditions.

Porsche is set to unveil the Cayenne Electric towards the end of the year, which means we might not have to wait long for its big reveal. In addition, the Cayenne EV will be offered alongside the existing internal combustion models and plug-in hybrid variants.

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that the Cayenne Electric will be revealed soon.