New look and more power for Porsche Cayenne — but no Turbo GT for UK
Electric Cayenne due in the near future
The wraps have been taken off the refreshed Porsche Cayenne, with the mid-life update introducing new technology, a revised engine line-up and a subtly revised exterior look.
The body gets a lower bonnet and tweaked wheelarches that are designed to make the front end look wider and more aggressive, while Porsche has added new LED headlights with matrix technology as standard.
Porsche loves its cost options, though, and an upgraded version of the lights features 32,000 pixels per lamp.
The matrix lights can pick out other road users and dip the beam around them, so as not to dazzle them, while still offering full illumination elsewhere. As well as a new front end, there are minor tweaks at the rear with 3D LED lights and a less fussy boot lid featuring a new rear number plate housing.
Completely new interior
Inside, the Cayenne uses the same ‘Porsche Driver Experience’ infotainment system as the electric Taycan. The standard-fit automatic gearbox now features a drive selector that’s located on the dashboard, which frees up space on the centre console for more storage and a revised climate control system. Porsche has retained some physical controls, rather than placing everything on a touchscreen.
What Porsche calls the “Driver Experience” system also positions all of the important driving functions either on the steering wheel at the driver’s fingertips.
There are updates for the front-seat passenger, too, with an optional 10.9in display located next to the main 12.3in touchscreen.
This has a special coating that means it can’t be viewed by the driver, so as well as being able to access infotainment and vehicle performance data, the front-seat passenger can also stream video to the secondary screen. Porsche hasn’t confirmed in which markets this system will be available, though.
More power for all versions
Under the skin, there’s more power for all versions of the Cayenne launch line-up, and a new engine for one of them.
Kicking off the range, the standard Cayenne gets 348bhp from its 3-litre V6 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, but the Cayenne S now comes with a 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8. This produces 467bhp, enabling a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds.
Also part of the launch line-up is the Cayenne E-Hybrid. This uses the entry-level Cayenne’s V6 but has a more powerful electric motor than before, so the total power output is up to 463bhp.
The battery is bigger than before, too, with a capacity of 25.9kWh (up from 17.9kWh). That means the E-Hybrid can officially drive for 56 miles on battery power alone. Charging takes two and a half hours from an 11kW wallbox.
New two-valve dampers are designed to boost the ability of the Cayenne’s suspension, with greater comfort in the softer settings and improved handling in the sportier modes. Optional two-chamber air suspension further broadens the range of ability on offer.
For now, the Cayenne range finishes here, but Turbo and GTS models are likely to arrive at a later date. The bad news for performance fans is that the ultra-rapid Turbo GT version has been cancelled for European markets.
Order books for the new Cayenne are open now, with first deliveries expected in July of this year.
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- Watch Porsche set an electric Nürburgring lap record — beating Tesla Model S Plaid
- And don’t miss our track review of the pure-electric Porsche Taycan GTS
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