New Cayenne gets everything it needs to see out internal combustion – but Turbo GT is withdrawn from Europe
By John Howell / Tuesday, 18 April 2023 / Loading comments
A new Porsche Cayenne has been revealed at the Shanghai motor show. The first thing you need to know is that it’s not an all-new car. This is not the all-electric Cayenne that we know is coming eventually. Nor is it to be confused with the even bigger SUV – codenamed ‘K1’ – that the company is working on, which is due sometime in 2027. That will be based on the VW Group’s forthcoming SSP (Scalable Systems Platform), which is the dedicated EV platform that the next-gen, all-electric Macan will use.
So, while Porsche has dug deep with its overhaul, it’s fair to call the new Cayenne a facelift. Especially because it looks very similar to the car you could’ve ordered until recently. This new version has slightly different headlights, grille and rear styling details – it’s more in ya face now. There are three more exterior colours, too, different wheel options ranging from 20 to 22 inches and a lightweight sports package for the Coupé that saves up to 33kg. You also get LED matrix headlights as standard across the range, but there’s a new optional HD matrix headlight system offered as an option with more than 32,000 pixels per headlamp. That’s a lot of pixels.
Inside, it’s a new take on the Taycan theme. The Cayenne now comes with the same un-cowled, 12.6-inch digital instrument screen with a gear selector toggle switch next to it. In the middle of the dashboard is the main 12.3-inch infotainment screen with updated software and next to that there’s an optional 10.9-inch passenger screen – a first for the Cayenne but another carryover from the Taycan. This ‘enriches the front passenger’s driving experience by displaying performance data, providing separate access to the infotainment system controls and, depending on the market, the option of streaming video content on the road.’
Thankfully, the Cayenne doesn’t follow the Taycan’s lead when it comes to the climate and stereo controls. The Taycan shoves these onto yet another screen below the infotainment, but the Cayenne sticks with a more conventional approach – mounting switches on the centre console. Some of the buttons are touch sensitive – because you cannot have everything you want in life – but at least the ones for changing the basics, like the cabin temperature, are still physical knobs. Porsche reckons this is ‘the right balance between digital and analogue elements.’
As with the outgoing range, models lower down the order come with steel springs and PASM, but now have two-valve dampers that control compression and rebound separately. Cars fitted with air suspension also have two-valve damping along with two-chamber air springs. Either way, we’re told there is an improvement to the ride and handling, with less pitch and roll. Also, there’s a greater distinction between the car in Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes.
Three engines are available in the UK, and all have more performance than before. The entry-level 3.0 V6 now has 353hp and 369lf ft – that’s a modest increase of 13hp and 37lb ft. More interestingly – and unusually, for this day and age – the Cayenne S is now a V8 instead of a V6, with 474hp and 443lb ft. That’s a boost of 34hp and 37lb ft and drops the 0-62mph time to 4.7 seconds (it used to be 5.2 seconds).
The Cayenne E-Hybrid has a higher-power motor peaking at 176hp, so the system output when you add in the 3.0-litre V6 comes out at 470hp. The battery size has gone from 17.9kWh to 25.9kWh, so it’s got a longer electric range, too – up to 56 miles. And you can top it up faster thanks to the new 11 kW onboard charger, which will charge the battery in as little as two-and-a-half hours.
You may be wondering where the Turbo GT features. Well, it doesn’t, not here anyway. The Turbo GT will continue outside Europe – and with even more power (659hp) – but it’s been dropped from the range in the UK. According to our sources at Porsche, it was a demise planned long before we hit publish on last weekend’s twin test, although officially why is unclear. Unofficially, it sounds like it’s probably to do with the ticklish problem of fleet emissions. So you’ll need to make your peace with the Lamborghini Urus Performante if you want as much as 666hp from your V8-powered SUV – or live with 474hp in the new Cayenne S. First world problems, eh?
There’s extra equipment for the revised Cayenne range, too, but also a substantial increase in cost. UK prices are out and the entry-level Cayenne now costs £67,400 (it was £63,700). The cheapest Coupé is £70,300, while the cheapest E-Hybrid is yours for £76,800 while the S starts at £80,800. Ordering is open from today with first deliveries from July 2023.
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