Today in Cars: Porsche’s Power Play, Xiaomi’s 300-km/h EV, and Nissan’s Rugged PHEV Revival

I spent the morning toggling between spec sheets, press shots, and a long coffee—because the EV world just dropped three very different headlines. Porsche has gone full sledgehammer with the Cayenne Coupe Electric. Xiaomi, of phone fame, now wants to blow past 300 km/h in a family EV. And Nissan’s dusted off the Terrano badge for a pair of plug-in SUVs with a whiff of safari about them. Toss in a few recalls, a warning on public-charging costs, and a Lamborghini restoration you’ll want framed, and you’ve got a proper Thursday brief.

Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric: sleeker, longer-legged, and absurdly quick

Yes, it’s real. The electric Cayenne Coupe arrives with cleaner surfacing, a tauter tail, and a headline figure that feels like a dare: up to 1,139 hp (Autocar frames it as 1,140 bhp). Car and Driver and Road & Track both hone in on the speed story, noting it rips to 60 mph as quickly as a 911 Turbo S—and for context, that’s supercar-quick in an SUV that can still tow a boat. Motor1 calls it Porsche’s most powerful car ever. Not most powerful SUV. Most powerful Porsche, period.

• Performance: up to 1,139 hp; 0–60 mph in 911 Turbo S territory
• Design: slimmer, more athletic coupe profile; tighter lighting signature
• Capability: towing remains on the menu—weekend toys need not worry
• Range: Porsche promises more versus the outgoing plug-in Cayenne lineup
• Timing: 2026 model in some markets; Road & Track pegs the U.S. as 2027 model year

What stood out when I dug in

I’ve towed with Cayennes before—an old Turbo S hauled a 19-foot bowrider for me like it was a box of tissues—so the “still tows” bit matters. Also, the stance looks right. The previous Coupe could read a little bulbous from some angles; this one tightens the window line and pulls the tail cleanly over the rear track. Cabin details weren’t the talking point today, but expect the latest Porsche UX and that firm, controlled ride you buy a Cayenne for. If you commute daily then disappear to the lake house on Fridays, this thing squarely targets you.

Range and charging

Porsche says “more range,” which is coy but promising. Given how owners actually use these—school runs, gym, then that monthly 300-mile interstate blast—improved efficiency and heat management will matter as much as peak charging speed. I’ll be curious whether Porsche tunes the one-pedal feel gently like Taycan, or leans into coasting for that Autobahn glide.

Xiaomi YU7 GT EV: 300 km/h in a family crossover

Xiaomi’s YU7 GT bursts into the chat with a 300 km/h top-speed claim and a mission to rattle the Tesla Model Y. It goes on sale next month (yes, that fast). Think tech-brand polish, aero-slick bodywork, and the sort of launch cadence only an electronics giant can pull off.

• Positioning: Tesla Model Y rival with a supercar-ish vMax
• Top speed: a claimed 300 km/h
• On sale: next month in its home market

I’ve watched China’s EVs evolve from “interesting” to “blisteringly competent” over the last five years. If Xiaomi marries slick software with real chassis tuning—and that’s always the trick—this could be a seriously disruptive daily driver. Picture it doing the Beijing school run all week, then embarrassing sports sedans on the ring road after dark. Not subtle. Rather fun.

Nissan Terrano and Urban PHEV: the rugged plug-in play

Nissan’s resurrected the Terrano name and paired it with a more city-focused Urban PHEV. The pitch, per CarExpert, Motor1, and Carscoops, is clear: credible off-road-flavored SUVs with plug-in power, eyeing everything from school runs to gravel tracks—and yes, casting a very direct glance at Toyota’s Land Cruiser 250.

• Format: two PHEV SUVs—one trail-leaning (Terrano), one urban-biased (Urban)
• Target: Land Cruiser 250 crowd, but with electrified efficiency
• Markets: Australia “on the cards”; broader rollout to be detailed

What I’m watching for: battery placement relative to ground clearance, a proper off-road drive mode stack, and whether Nissan gives us a real spare tire. It’s the little things you miss when you’re airing down on a fire road at dusk.

Quick takes

Mitsubishi’s new Outlander Hybrid

Carscoops flags a non-plug-in Outlander Hybrid with 174 hp and fuel economy that “barely cracks 28 mpg.” That’s—let’s be honest—underwhelming on paper when Toyota and Ford hybrids routinely do better. The Outlander’s a comfy family bus, but I’ll need a drive to see if real-world gains beat the spec sheet.

Lamborghini Miura SV restoration

Three years of painstaking work resulted in a color that shouldn’t work—and somehow does. The Miura’s one of those shapes that forgives everything. I’ve stood next to one idling; the way the panels shimmer with heat feels like a candle under crystal. More of this, please.

UK warning on public-charging costs

Autocar notes a cost-squeeze ahead for EV drivers reliant on public charging. If you can’t plug in at home, consider off-peak subscriptions, slower AC charging when time allows, and planning routes around cheaper networks. I keep a note on my phone: “charge when you stop; don’t stop to charge.” It helps.

Riversimple pivots to hydrogen Audi A2

The UK FCEV startup is redirecting its tech into a hydrogen-powered Audi A2. Honestly, that makes delightful sense: the A2’s light, slippery bodywork is a gift to any efficiency project. There’s a certain poetry in reviving a forward-thinking hatch with future tech instead of binning it.

Massachusetts’ wild police chase

A 165-mph pursuit ended when the driver crashed themself, per Carscoops. I’ve done 165—in Germany, legally, in a very planted wagon. On American tarmac, in traffic, that’s lunacy. Don’t.

Recall roundup: check your VINs

Several recalls hit the wire today via CarExpert. If you own one of these, contact your dealer and confirm next steps. Some recalls are quick software flashes; others need parts and a booking. Keep paperwork, snap a photo of your VIN, and log the date.

• Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ (electric G-Class)
• Cupra Born
• Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan, and Tayron

Not every recall is “stop driving now,” but don’t sit on it. If there’s a safety angle—airbags, high-voltage systems, steering—you want it sorted promptly.

Big launches at a glance

Editor’s road note

If you’re eyeing a high-performance EV SUV, ask yourself where you’ll charge, how often you tow, and what your winter weekends look like. When I tested an old Cayenne on rutted backroads, the bandwidth—the way it handled a school run at 8 a.m. and a muddy trail at 4 p.m.—was the magic. If the new electric one keeps that bandwidth while adding quiet, range, and face-distorting pace, Porsche’s nailed the brief.

Conclusion

Today’s theme is breadth. Porsche proves an EV SUV can be outrageous and useful. Xiaomi swings for the fences with top speed bravado. Nissan returns to its roots with plug-in practicality. Meanwhile, the realities of ownership—recalls and charging costs—remind us the car life is about more than the spec sheet. It’s about how it all fits, day in, day out.

FAQ

How fast is the new Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric?

It makes up to 1,139 hp (around 1,140 bhp) and accelerates to 60 mph as quickly as a 911 Turbo S, while still offering towing capability.

When can I buy the Cayenne Coupe Electric?

Global launches start in 2026, with the U.S. expected to see it as a 2027 model year vehicle.

What’s special about the Xiaomi YU7 GT EV?

It claims a 300 km/h top speed and targets the Tesla Model Y segment, with sales starting next month in its home market.

Is the Nissan Terrano PHEV coming to my market?

Nissan has revealed Terrano and Urban PHEV SUVs with Australia “on the cards.” Broader market details will follow.

Which cars were recalled today?

Mercedes-Benz G580 EQ, Cupra Born, and Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan, and Tayron. Owners should contact their dealer with the VIN for guidance.