Porsche unveils the third generation Cayenne

Words: Shubham Choukse

Porsche has revealed the next generation Cayenne, which is now lighter, faster and more efficient than ever before. It is based on the same MLBevo platform as the new Audi Q7 and the Bentley Bentayga, but due to its tighter proportions, extensive use of aluminium and other weight saving measures, it weighs considerably less – the kerb weight of the entry-level model being just 1985Kg.

The Cayenne, in the past has been known for its impressive handling and acceleration. And the next generation models are expected to do even better. Under the hood it gets an all-new range of powertrain options. The entry-level Cayenne petrol model is powered by a 3-litre turbo V6 motor which pumps out 335bhp of power and 450Nm of torque, good for acceleration from 0 to 100kmph in just 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 245kmph. The Cayenne S petrol gets a new 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine churning out 435bhp of power and 550Nm of torque, that’s a 20bhp improvement over the previous gen car and it can now accelerate to 100kmph in a staggering 5.2 seconds while the top speed is 265kmph. Opting for Sport-Chrono package will improve the acceleration times by 0.3 seconds on both the models. Transmission duties on the new Cayenne are performed by a new 8-speed automatic Tiptronic S transmission.

Porsche has also introduced a host of new technologies taken directly from its 911 family, it now gets Porsche 4D chassis control that analyses roll, yaw and pitch and tweaks the chassis settings in real time to make it handle better. It also gets rear-wheel steering which improves high-speed stability. Optional performance add-ons include adaptive air suspension (that allows adjustable ride height) and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) roll stabilisation. This PDCC system is now an electric one, and not hydraulic and has been made possible thanks to the Cayenne switching over to a 48-volt electric system.

To prove its off-road potential, the new Cayenne comes equipped with 4 off-road driving modes Mud, Gravel, Sand and Rocks, the driving modes alter the chassis settings, engine response and differential locks according to the surface situation. It also gets Porsche’s active all-wheel drive system and fully variable Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system.

With cleaner lines and tighter proportions the exterior styling on the new Cayenne looks inspired from its younger sibling – Macan. While on the interior there is a whole new setup, the ugly cluster of buttons has now been replaced by small touch screens and at the centre of the dashboard now sits a large touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and smartphone integration capabilities, very similar to the new gen Panamera.

Introduced way back in 2002, the Cayenne was the first-ever SUV model from Porsche, and since then it has been their best-selling model. It is the car that saved the company from bankruptcy and the car that actually started the current trend of sporty-SUVs.