Porsche’s rakish new coupe-inspired SUV has been spied during its winter assessment, and looks ready to take on the BMW X6
Development of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe seems to be entering its final stages, as indicated by this largely undisguised test mule. Porsche will expand its line-up with this new model, seeking to rival the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe in the world of niche SUVs.
The new Coupe will have a near-identical face to the standard Cayenne, with the majority of its styling changes taking place at the rear. Most obviously, the Coupe gets a steeply-raked roof line, which is likely to compromise practicality by limiting rear headroom and reducing the standard Cayenne’s 770-litre boot capacity.
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The cladding around the C-pillar masks a shorter, rounder rear window, while the rear licence plate has been moved from the tailgate to the bumper. A spoiler sprouts from below the base of the rear window, and the way that this sits proud suggests that it will be electrically retractable.
We’re yet to see the Cayenne Coupe’s interior, but we expect the dashboard design will closely mirror that of the standard SUV. A mild redesign of the rear bench could be possible to compensate for the Coupe’s lower roofline.
An earlier test mule appeared to be fitted with either a hybrid or fully-electric powertrain – look close enough and you can see voltage-warning stickers on the doors. It’s highly likely that the production model will be electrified as, like the standard Cayenne, the Coupe shares its platform with the Panamera, which already adopts plug-in hybrid tech.
Beyond the prospect of hybridisation, engine and transmission choices will be mirrored from the current Cayenne model. This latest mule appears to be a conventionally-powered model.
Porsche already has the large and mid-size premium SUV market covered, with the regular Cayenne and newer Macan. To maximise its influence, Porsche is following its rivals and moving into the niche territory of Coupe SUVs. While unconventional, the sector has proved to be lucrative, with the BMW X6 and the Jaguar F-Pace netting huge sales successes for their manufacturers.
Do you think the Porsche Cayenne Coupe will be a sales hit? Let us know in the comments section below…
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