Porsche India has launched the third generation of the Cayenne SUV in India today. They’ve also brought to our shores the Cayenne E-Hybrid which we drove in May this year. The Cayenne and the Cayenne Turbo are priced at Rs 1.19 Cr and Rs 1.92 Cr while the much awaited Cayenne E-Hybrid will be sold at a sticker price of Rs 1.58 Cr, respectively. The bookings for the Cayenne Turbo had started right at the beginning of this year.
The new generation Cayenne models are based on Volkswagen’s new MLB platform that’s also used in the Bentley Bentayga and the Audi Q7. The Cayenne is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that makes an additional 39bhp and 50Nm of torque over the previous unit at 335.3bhp and 450Nm. It races from naught to 100kmph in 5.9 seconds, which too is 1.7 seconds quicker than its predecessor. The Cayenne Turbo on the other hand packs a much meatier engine and is made for speed and track enthusiasts. It’s powered by a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine, which is downsized from the earlier 4.8-litre unit in the outgoing model. Though, thanks to the dual turbos, the engine makes a monstrous 542.4bhp and 770Nm of torque which is 29bhp and 20Nm more than the old Cayenne Turbo. As a result it spurs the SUV from 0-100kmph in just 3.9 seconds and goes on to achieve a top speed of 286kmph.
The most awaited Cayenne E-Hybrid is propelled by a hybrid electric powertrain which is based on the same unit which was first seen in the 918 hypercar. It’s a permanent magnet synchronous motor which is designed for greater power density, good controlability and spontaneous responses. It weighs 138kg and has a pure electric range of upto 44km. The electric motor works in tandem with a 3.0-litre V6 and the combined output is 455bhp and 700Nm of torque. With this, the parallel hybrid unit accelerates the car to 100kmph in 5 seconds flat and can achieve a maximum speed of 253 kmph. The E-Hybrid also has four driving modes- E-Power for pure electric driving, Hybrid-Auto, which ofcourse uses both the engine and the electric motor and Sport and Sport Plus where the combustion engine is always on and the battery is charged for ‘boost capturing’.
Read our first drive review of the Cayenne E-Hybrid here
And it goes without mentioning that the Porsche Cayenne lineup is loaded to the brim with modern techno-wizardry and assistance systems. The Cayenne Turbo is the first SUV in the world to feature an adaptive rear spoiler. It doubles up as an air-brake and auto adjusts its angles depending on the mode you’re driving in. Moreover, improving manoeuvrability is its rear wheel steering. Apart from that the Cayenne models feature Porsche Dynamic Light System where 84 individually controlled LEDs adapt to the situation by switching off or dimming. There’s also the heads up display, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist including traffic sign recognition, collision and brake assist, night vision assist and many more. The new SUVs also get five driving modes for tackling different kinds of terrain- Onroad, mud, sand, gravel and rocks.
On the launch of the three new variants of the Cayenne, Pavan Shetty, Director, Porsche India said, “Since its initial launch, the Cayenne has been one of our most popular models in India and I have no doubt that the third generation will continue this success story. Our latest edition to the range is at home on any road, but it is equally ready to explore new terrain as well. We welcome the new Cayenne E-Hybrid as we see a growing interest from our customers in electric mobility”.