New Porsche Cayenne unveiled with updated powertrain, chassis, and technology

Porsche has today unveiled an updated version of its third generation Cayenne which sees changes to its powertrain, chassis, and technology.

Its looks may be similar to the model currently on sale today so you may be wondering how much change has actually gone into the SUV. To answer that, Michael Schätzle, Vice President of the Cayenne product line, says: “It’s one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche.”

With that being said, a new feature of the model is its revised dashboard display and control setup which now puts more emphasis on the driver by moving multiple control surfaces to on and around the steering wheel. An example of this is the automatic gear selector which can now be found on the dashboard, freeing up space for storage on the centre console.

One of the more noticeable changes inside is the new triple screen arrangement which sees the passenger receive an optional 10.9-inch display that can present performance data and control the infotainment system. This is out of the driver’s view thanks to a special foil masking the screen from their perspective.

The driver now gets a digital 12.6-inch instrument cluster while a central 12.3-inch display controls all other relevant vehicle and entertainment functions.

Up front, the new Cayenne boasts redesigned fenders, a new bonnet, and new matrix LED headlights which now come as standard on the model. There’s also a set of “three-dimensionally designed” tail lights at the back alongside a restyled rear end.

Customers can now choose from an expanded colour palette with three new finishes, a lightweight sports package which can save up to 33 kilograms on the Cayenne Coupe, and a new extensive range of 20-, 21-, and 22-inch wheels.

There’s also a new suite of safety assistance systems such as an active speed limiter, swerve assist, cornering assist, and changes to the adaptive cruise control.

Ride comfort and performance is also said to have been improved thanks to a new set of steel springs and shock absorbers with ‘2-valve technology’, as well as the addition of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system.

The updated SUV will arrive in New Zealand with four different engines including a refined version of Porsche’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, producing 349kW and 600Nm of torque, replacing the V6 in the Cayenne S variant. This brings its 0 to 100km/h sprint time to 4.7 seconds on both the SUV and coupe.

Power on the Cayenne Turbo GT’s V8 has also been increased to 485kW which accelerates the model from 0 to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds.

The entry-level Cayenne comes with an “optimised” 3.0-litre V6 turbo engine that now makes 260kW and 500Nm of torque, 10kW and 50Nm more than before. This motor also features on the E-Hybrid which adds a 130kW electric motor to the mix for a combined output of 346kW. The hybrid also comes with a 25.9kWh battery that provides a fully electric range of 90km.

Porsche New Zealand has priced the Cayenne starting from $165,200 which grants you access to matrix LED headlights, 20-inch wheels and a smartphone tray with inductive charging at up to 15 watts.

Pricing for the entire Porsche Cayenne range is as follows:

• Cayenne – $165,200
• Cayenne E-Hybrid – $182,200
• Cayenne S – $209,300
• Cayenne Coupe – $171,900
• Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe – $187,200
• Cayenne S Coupe – $216,500
• Cayenne Turbo GT Coupe – $369,900

The new models are available to order now, with the first New Zealand deliveries expected from August 2023.