Porsche Cayenne Adds Performance, Tech and Luxury

Porsche reveals the facelifted third-generation Cayenne, describing it as the most comprehensive update of an existing model in the company’s 75-year history.

Due in North American showrooms during the second half of this year, the four-and-a-half-year-old midsize CUV and its more sporting CUV Coupe sibling gain revised exterior styling, new interior appointments and re-engineered drivetrains in a program aimed at extending their lifecycle beyond the second-generation model’s eight years.

The move comes as the German automaker prepares to launch an electric version of the Cayenne as part of plans CEO Oliver Blume says will increase the share of new Porsche models with an all-electric drivetrain to more than 80% by 2030.

The upcoming electric Cayenne will be sold alongside the existing internal-combustion engine and plug-in-hybrid models into the next decade.

The facelift of the Cayenne includes a new-look front end with reshaped headlamps and revised bumper as well as an altered hood and front fenders.

At the rear, there is a LED graphic for the full-width taillamp. The tailgate also has been altered, with the mounting of the license plate now lower down within a lightly revised rear bumper, as on the pre-facelift CUV Coupe. New wheels range from 20 ins. to 22 ins. in diameter.

Cayenne Turbo GT cockpit

The changes continue inside (pictured, above), where the Cayenne adopts a Taycan-style dashboard with a 12.6-in. (32-cm) freestanding curved instrument display, a 12.3-in. (31-cm) centrally integrated infotainment display and, as optional, a 10.9-in. (28-cm) integrated display ahead of the front passenger.

The passenger display provides access to vehicle data as well as internet-based streaming services. 

As on the Taycan, the gear selector is positioned high up between the instrument and infotainment displays.

The center console receives a new combination of touch-sensitive and analog controls for the air conditioning and other functions, together with larger storage compartments and cupholders. There’s also a new 15-watt smartphone charging pad with cooling functionality.

The facelifted Cayenne will be sold with an updated range of gasoline and gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrains, all featuring detailed refinements for added performance and lower emissions.

The base turbocharged 3.0L V-6 in the Cayenne gains 13 hp, taking it to 349 hp.

In the Cayenne S, the existing twin-turbocharged 2.9L V-6 is replaced by a 468-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0L V-8, bringing an additional 34 hp and a claimed 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds and 170 mph (274 km/h) top speed.

The base 3.0L also powers the ’24 Cayenne E-Hybrid (pictured, below). It is mated to a more powerful gearbox-mounted electric motor with an added 40 hp at 174 hp, upping the combined output to 464 hp. Together with an 8.0-kWh increase in battery capacity at 25.9-kWh, it is claimed to provide an electric-only range of up to 56 miles (90 km) on the WLTP test cycle. The battery also draws on a more powerful 11-kW on-board charger, shortening charging times, according to Porsche.

Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe front 1.4

The twin-turbocharged 4.0L V-8 in the Cayenne Turbo GT gets an 18-hp bump in reserves, raising its output to 650 hp. It dispatches the range-topping Cayenne model from 0-62 mph in a claimed 3.3 seconds and to a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h).

Porsche is holding back on details of an additional two new gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid Cayenne models planned to be unveiled later this year, though it tells Wards the replacement for the Cayenne S E-Hybrid will be positioned as a performance-based alternative to the Cayenne Turbo GT in selected markets where upcoming emission regulations will prohibit its sale.

It will feature even greater power and torque than the outgoing model, which delivers a combined 670 hp.

Cayenne Turbo GT

The suspension of the facelifted Cayenne retains the same double-wishbone front and multi-link rear design as before, but a series of upgrades provide it with better ride comfort and handling.

Lower-end models continue with a steel-spring setup that includes Porsche Active Suspension Management. It now uses two-valve dampers with separate compression and rebound properties – a development Porsche claims enhances both low-speed compliance at low speeds while resisting pitch and roll at higher speeds on the open road. Higher-specified models continue to run air springs.

The standard tire size on the base Cayenne and Cayenne S increases from 19 ins. to 20 ins. in diameter.

Despite the planned introduction of an electric Cayenne based on the PPE platform – the same structure set to underpin next year’s new electric Macan – Porsche says it will continue to offer ICE and plug-in hybrid versions of its popular CUV and CUV Coupe well into the future.

At a recent prototype drive, Porsche engineers revealed to Wards that a second facelift of the existing Cayenne is planned to take place “around 2028.”

North American deliveries begin in July.

Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe_0