Porsche unveils the new Cayenne with more screens than ever
The twin-turbo V8 makes a 467hp comeback. Rejoice, enthusiasts!
Just over a fortnight ago, Porsche unveiled the interiors of the new Cayenne, and it introduced a whiff of refinement to the design. With the addition of a passenger-side screen, a start-stop button instead of the traditional keyhole and a little lever behind the steering wheel against a gear shifter on the centre console, it was quite evident where Porsche picked up its revised cabin refinement cues from (read the all-electric Taycan). And now, the German performance carmaker has also unveiled the rest of the car. Behold, the new Porsche Cayenne.
“It’s one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche,” is how Michael Schätzle, Vice President Product Line Cayenne, Porsche, describes the facelifted Cayenne. It wouldn’t be a surprise if one got dizzy comparing the exterior changes between the old and the new because the design tweaks are tiny. Most of the upgrades have been made where the eye won’t easily reach – mechanicals.
The standard suspension has been reworked, with new valves in the dampers, resulting in a more pliant and soft ride at lower speeds and more planted when faster. Air suspension is optional, but Porsche claims the revised setup on the facelifted Cayenne will offer distinguishable differences between Normal, Sport and Sport Plus settings.
The Porsche Cayenne is renowned for being a driver-focussed SUV among its rivals, and enthusiasts would be glad to note the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 engine makes a comeback against the V6 in the Cayenne S. This helps the new Cayenne S to put out 467hp and 600Nm torques, a hike of 33hp and 50Nm than its six-cylindered predecessor. Acceleration from 0-100kph takes 4.7secs, and the top speed is 273kph. One can still opt for the 3.0-litre turbo V6 engine, now available in the base Cayenne producing just a whiff under 350hp.
For environment-conscious customers of the Cayenne, an E-hybrid powertrain is on offer too. Combining the 6-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a heightened battery capacity than its predecessor (from 17.9 kWh to 25.9 kW), the new Porsche Cayenne E-hybrid can be driven up to 90kms in EV mode alone, twice the electric range of the previous model.
Visually, there’s little to differentiate the facelift from the earlier model. Sharper headlights and grille and a rear number plate area higher than before are major constituents. Though, the interior is a whole different story. The instrument binnacle now houses an all-digital setup over the traditional gauges, offering up to seven different speedometer layouts. The passenger screen is a first in the Cayenne, a 10.9-inch optional extra feature that gets a special coating to prevent the driver from peeking into it. Porsche claims the cabin is an optimal blend of modern touchscreens and analogue elements, the latter being assigned for air-con controls. Plus, the new Cayenne boasts of a biological weapons-proof cabin filtration system, which aims to prevent exterior nasties from entering the cabin and can automatically engage itself upon sensing the impending arrival of a tunnel.
The new Porsche Cayenne SUV can also be had in Coupe body style, with Porsche offering a lightweight carbon-fibre roof solution that claims to aid a 33-kilo deficient in weight. Quite handy in a two-tonne SUV.
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