Already three years in conception and planning, the K1 aims to build on the success of the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan, Porsche’s two best-selling models over the past two decades.
When it arrives, it will be the sixth Porsche EV after the Porsche Taycan, the electric Macan, an electric Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman pairing due in 2025 and an electric version of the Cayenne tentatively planned for launch in 2026.
The K1 will be the first car to sit on Porsche’s adaptation of parent Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform, known as SSP Sport. Although details are scarce, this is expected to offer more performance than the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture that underpins the electric Macan and the new Audi Q6 E-tron.
The K1 has been tipped by insiders to run an 920V electrical system for even faster charging than 800V PPE-based models, and have oil cooling for its motors. What battery pack it could use remains under wraps, although it’s expected to adopt a cell-to-chassis layout for added structural integrity, with a capacity of more than 100kWh and a WLTP range of more than 435 miles in its most efficient form.
Other chassis tech planned for the K1 includes electronically controlled four-wheel steering that will offer up to 5deg of turning angle for the rear wheels to give added manoeuvrability at low speeds around town and greater agility at higher speeds. This feature will work in combination with an electronic differential providing a torque-vectoring effect between each individual rear wheel.
Inside the K1, Porsche will focus on space. This is down to key architectural developments being pushed by Porsche for the new SSP Sport platform, such as a low cabin floor, courtesy of a slimline battery pack, and rear footwells similar to those of the J1 platform used by the existing Taycan.
Production of the K1 is scheduled to take place alongside that of the electric Macan at Porsche’s factory in Leipzig, Germany – the same site responsible for the existing Macan, Cayenne and Porsche Panamera.
