The New Porsche Cayenne Looks Like A Bigger Macan

Porsche has unveiled the all-new Cayenne SUV before it begins shipping to customers worldwide in 2018. The Cayenne is one of the most important models for the company being the highest selling model in its lineup in the world. 

The update brings the Porsche Cayenne in line with the company's new design language, with many elements borrowed from the Panamera. In an effort to make the Cayenne look like a taller sports car, the designers have used many tricks to reduce the bulk. The result is that the Cayenne now looks like a bigger version of the Macan compact luxury SUV.

Highlights at the front include bigger headlights, which fitted with LED projector headlights as standard or with optional all-LED matrix headlights. The air intakes are bigger and so is the grille, these combine to give the Cayenne a wider look. 

At the side, the Cayenne is now slightly longer at 4928mm (+73mm) though the wheelbase remains unchanged at 2895mm. This has apparently increased the luggage compartment in the new Cayenne, it now holds 770-litres.

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The all-LED rear lights are now slimmer and stretch from side-to-side, like the Porsche Panamera. Depending on the variant, the new Cayenne gets dual or quad tail-pipes.

Inside, the most noticeable changes include the new steering wheel, the plethora of digital screens and buttons being replaced by touch-sensitive panels.

The steering wheel now features a 'Mode Selector' which can be used to change the driving dynamics of the Cayenne on the move faster. A feature first seen on the legendary Porsche 918 Spyder, this selector can be used to select one of four available modes - Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. At the centre of the selector is the 'Sport Response button' which puts makes the Cayenne's engine into an over-boost mode and also makes the transmission shift faster - for a limited time of 20 seconds.

The dashboard now features three new digital screens, the largest one is a 12.3-inch touch sensitive unit placed in the centre of the dashboard, while two 7-inch screens flank the central analogue tachometer in the instrument cluster. The infotainment system can be paired to surround sound systems from either Bose or Burmester.

Previous generation Porche cars have had unique interiors because of the plethora of buttons placed in the centre console, most of them have been replaced with touch-sensitive panels in the new Cayenne. Only the 'essential' buttons remain analogue.

Two variants of the Cayenne have been announced for now - the standard Cayenne and the more powerful Cayenne S. Both the versions are powered by turbocharged petrol V6 engines, the Cayenne by a 3.0-litre unit developing 345PS/450Nm (+45PS/50Nm) and the Cayenne S by a 2.9-litre, twin-turbo unit developing 446PS/550Nm (+26PS/0Nm). 

Both the variants are offered with a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission; the lower ratios of the first few set of gears make the Cayenne more responsive at lower speeds while the latter gears have been made as tall as possible for better for increased mileage at higher speeds. The Cayenne does the 0-96kmph run in 5.9 seconds while the Cayenne S achieves the same in 4.9 seconds.

On road performance of the Cayenne is improved thanks to new front separated-link and rear multi-link setup, staggered tyres front and rear, air-suspension (standard on the S, optional otherwise), a 65kg reduction in overall weight, AWD system as standard and the optional rear-wheel steering system. 

Handling is also improved thanks to all-new optional tungsten-coated brake pads. Porsche claims these brakes provide better stopping power because of increased friction while reducing brake wear and brake dust.

Off-road ability is also improved in the new Cayenne thanks to new selectable off-road modes. Drivers can choose from four available modes - Mud, Gravel, Sand and Rocks. The Cayenne automatically adapts its engine, chassis and differentials according to the selected mode for the best traction. The Cayenne is still a soft-roader at best.

Porsche has announced that the new Cayenne and Cayenne S will be priced at $65,700 (Rs 41.98 lakh) and $82,900 (Rs 52.97 lakh) in the USA. The current Cayenne range in India starts at Rs 1.06 Crore, ex-showroom, we expect the new one to cost about the same when launched later in 2018.

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