The current Porsche Cayenne has been around since 2010.
So, it's about time for a facelift.
You may not see it right away, but more has changed than just the front.
Take the front and rear lights, bumpers, spoilers and side mirrors.
Both the bonnet and the front fenders are different, too.
From the inside, some new materials, colours and a new steering wheel.
Technically, there have been a lot of changes, too. Like the chassis.
According to Porsche, the chassis has been refined. But it was already great!
It's just the best full-size SUV chassis around.
It's heavy, big and high yet steers very precise and neutral.
One could call it mechanical witchcraft!
So what has changed? Let's just accept it has gotten even better.
Then: the new drivetrains. All engines have gotten more economical.
Amongst other things thanks to this optimised 8-speed automatic.
There's a coast mode as well, in which the engine idles when I lift off.
When I touch the throttle again, it moves back into gear. Economical!
There's a new stop/start-system. It turns off the engine before the car stops.
Two drivetrains are new. First, the plug-in hybrid Cayenne.
We knew it was coming, but not this soon. This fall already!
It allows for tax benefits in NL, which points out how silly that system is.
Bad news for Volvo, as the XC90 won't be the first full-size plug-in SUV.
Then, this Cayenne S, which has a new engine as well. A downsized one.
It has lost 2 cilinders, and the NA 4.8 V8 from the old Cayenne S at that.
In its place is the Macan-sourced bi-turbo V6.
So, we have to accept a 3.6 bi-turbo V6 now.
The other day I experienced a similar thing with the BMW M4, which was okay.
But this one sounds cultivated, almost decent. Despite a hum in Sport+.
The typical pure V8 sound is sorely missed.
Performance has only gone up, though. The V8 had 400 PS and 500 Nm.
This V6 has 420 PS and 550 Nm. So there's more speed in the end.
The 260 km/h top speed in this 'castle on wheels' is amazing.
It shouldn't be possible, yet it is. It's a bit thirsty though. Lovely SUV.
The rather facelifted Cayenne will be at the dealers this autumn.
The S with this new engine, and the plug-in hybrid which we'll show later.
+ Great handling, finish
- S sound too weak, infotainment connectivity