Porsche Cayenne - page 12

Porsche has given its popular Cayenne SUV a fresh look for the 2024 model year, marking a significant update since the sport-ute entered its third generation in 2017. This facelift brings a redesigned front and rear fascia, along with a revamped cabin with more screen real estate than ever, giving the Cayenne a sharper, more modern appearance.

Hot on the heels of the Macan EV, two test mules of the all-electric Cayenne were spotted testing in the Alps under heavy camouflage. Following the Taycan and the Macan, the Cayenne will be Porsche’s third EV. Now an electrified Cayenne has existed since 2010 in the form of an e-Hybrid variant, but this upcoming Cayenne will be the first to go all-electric. The Cayenne of course is one of the models that saved the Porsche brand and took the performance SUV mainstream. With the brand set to electrify 80% of its model lineup which also includes the 911 by 2030, it comes as no surprise that the German automaker is expediting the electrification of its best-selling models, the Macan and the Cayenne.

Porsches are special, whether the rear-engined 911, the mid-engined 718, or the front-engined big and bulky Cayenne. However, neither sports car is the best seller in Porsche’s lineup. Why? Well, not everyone is a hardcore motoring enthusiast who intends to tear up the drag strip or aspires to be a GT3 driver in their new purchase, and that’s where the Cayenne wins the popularity vote.

In 2002, Porsche took a huge gamble by launching the Cayenne, an SUV based on the Volkswagen Touareg, which left many purists sneering. Despite the criticisms, Porsche’s gamble paid off as the years progressed - big time. Much to the surprise of many, the Cayenne became a runaway success, bringing in more money for Porsche than ever.

Remember 2002? Britney Spears dominated the airwaves, flip phones were all the rage, and Porsche took a bold leap into uncharted territory - the SUV market. The Cayenne became an instant success with its sculpted curves and undeniable Porsche spirit. It proved that luxury and practicality could coexist while redefining the SUV landscape and injecting much-needed cash into the iconic German brand, securing its future for generations to come.

Porsche is giving the Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe lineup a mid-cycle refresh for 2024, strengthening its position in the midsize premium sport SUV category. Both variants now feature a refined, sleek design, including a redesigned front with arched wings, an updated hood, and larger air intakes. The Cayenne Coupe goes further with a wider and sloping rear end.

Gone are the days when Porsche purists criticized the idea of a Porsche SUV. If there’s still a skeptic out there, a spin in the 2024 Porsche Cayenne should change their tune. Two decades in, the Cayenne has morphed from a bold experiment into a jewel in Porsche’s crown - the vehicle that made Porsche dive into a pool of money.

In 2004, Porsche took a bold step into the SUV market by introducing the Cayenne. While controversial among brand purists, this move ultimately proved to be a savior for the company, as the Cayenne quickly became Porsche’s best-selling model. Designed to compete with the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class, the Cayenne offered a unique blend of Porsche performance and SUV practicality.

Porsche introduced the third-generation Cayenne for the 2019 model year, ushering in a new era of performance and refinement for the brand’s flagship SUV. Riding on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB EVO platform, the redesigned Cayenne featured a sleeker, more athletic exterior that maintained its distinctive silhouette while incorporating modern Porsche design cues. Its cabin was inspired by the Panamera sedan, offering a perfect blend of luxury, technology, and sportiness. New technologies like a 12.3-inch touchscreen and semi-digital cluster with two integrated displays promised better connectivity while treating occupants with top-notch comfort with massage seats.

Blending sleek aesthetics with practical utility, coupe SUVs burst onto the scene with the original BMW X6, which pioneered this niche in 2008. Porsche joined the fray in 2019 with its 2024 Cayenne Coupe (9Y3), built on Volkswagen’s MLB Evo platform shared with the Q8. This new addition to the third-generation Cayenne lineup aimed to capture buyers seeking a sportier silhouette without sacrificing the brand’s performance pedigree.

Following the arrival of the Cayenne’s third generation for the 2019 model year, Porsche presents the Cayenne Coupe for the 2020 model year to compete in the coupe SUV sector. The Cayenne S Coupe sits between the base and the Turbo model, bringing a sleeker, sportier variant of its SUV stalwart. Built on Volkswagen Group’s MLB Evo platform, it shares its underpinnings with the standard SUV model and also offerings like the Lamborghini Urus and Audi Q8. A 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine outputs 434 horsepower and 405 pound-feet to deliver 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds and 163 mph top speed, blessing it with sufficient speed.

Following the launch of the third-generation Cayenne SUV for the 2019 model year, Porsche is gambling into the coupe SUV sector with an all-new Cayenne Coupe for the 2020 model year. The 2020 Cayenne Turbo Coupe sits between the E-Hybrid Coupe and the flagship Turbo S E-Hybrid PHEV, offering buyers a stellar performance SUV. Powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine channeling 541 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque, this SUV accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and promises a top speed of 177 mph.