Porsche introduces the overhauled Cayenne in Austria; ‘Inquirer Mobility’ gets an exclusive drive
Only a few things are forever etched in a person’s memory: One’s first love, first child, first job, first car — and driving a Porsche.
Taking the new, heavily updated version of the third-generation Porsche Cayenne on the tight and twisty country roads of the Austrian mountains is an unforgettable experience, too.
Porsche, last week, launched the new Cayenne through an international media event held at Salzburg and Tyrol in Austria. In its latest rendition, the Cayenne sees comprehensive changes to its powertrain, chassis, design and equipment. The changes not only raise the Cayenne’s on-road and off-road performance, but also its luxurious feel and comfortable ride that is suitable for daily drives. These are significant, considering the Cayenne’s position in Porsche’s portfolio.
Porsche spokesperson for the Macan and Cayenne Ben Weinberger underscored this during the presentation program for the new model, saying: “For the first quarter of 2023, the Cayenne once again has been a customer favorite with over 23,000 deliveries, which represented a 23-percent increase over the previous year.”
Just as important, Weinberger noted the model is “another step forward to our goal of electrifying 80 percent of our product portfolio by 2030,” and that the extensively revised Cayenne will remain in the product range of Porsche, to be sold alongside the upcoming all-new, all-electric Cayenne.
Following the Cayenne’s presentation was the driving activity held on mountain roads. Inquirer Mobility had the privilege of taking the wheel of both the Cayenne E-hybrid Coupe and Cayenne S Coupe.
The Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is heavier than the Cayenne S, with about 300 kilos worth of extra weight mainly because of all the added electronics and batteries. But to think it is slow and difficult to drive is a mistake. The Cayenne E-Hybrid is such a joy to drive despite of its added weight. It does not lack power at all, able to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds. At that speed, getting in trouble with the law is more than likely.
But it was on the tight mountain passes where the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe exceled. There was no need to “ride” the brakes while cornering because this SUV turned like it was on rails. Tight downhill hairpins, taken at speed, did not pose a problem for the vehicle. And even with its 22-inch wheels, its comfort and drivability were exceptional, especially when combined with the Porsche Active Suspension Management — an adaptive air suspension system with a leveling feature. With these, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe exhibited minimal body roll, even if set in Normal driving mode (not Sport).
The powertrain of the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe features a new electric motor combined with a six-cylinder combustion engine, outputting a total of 470 hp. The configuration is impressive, with its seamless transition between electric power and engine power. Notably, the increased battery capacity, from 17.0 kWh to 25.9 kWh, results in charging times of less than 2.5 hours, thanks mainly to the new 11 kW onboard charger. In purely electric mode, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe can travel as much as 90 kilometers.
The Porsche Cayenne S Coupe, just like its hybrid twin, tackled corners with such ease and comfort. Its driver and passengers were cradled by its luxurious leather seats, ensuring everyone on board remains firmly in place.
Featured prominently in the Cayenne S Coupe’s fully revamped cabin was the instrument cluster. Now fully digital, it has a curved glass display with striking colors, making all gauges very legible. And, true to form, the tachometer is still located right in the middle.
The Cayenne S Coupe is powered by a twin-turbo V8 producing 474 hp. It allows the vehicle a top speed of 273km/h, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.7 seconds — a shade faster than the hybrid version.
While all the new Cayenne models share almost the same appointments — redesigned front end with HD Matrix LED headlights, taillights, laneswerve assist, and the Porsche InnoDrive that is part of the adaptive cruise control, among others — there remains one thing that would make us choose a Cayenne S Coupe over the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe, and that is the powerful rumble of a proper V8 engine.
Having said that, the changes made to the third-generation Cayenne are remarkable in every way, and prove Porsche vice-president for the Cayenne product line Michael Schatzle’s point when he said these represent the “most extensive product upgrades in Porsche’s history.”
