Pushing the engine start button of the new Porsche Cayenne S Coupé results in a satisfying click, followed by a throaty, gurgling roar that feels like it’s designed to wake the neighbours.
The beloved luxury SUV from Porsche has been thoughtfully upgraded inside and out with design, tech and engineering tweaks, creating a car that skips easily between an everyday family workhorse and a thrilling sports car.
“It’s one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche,” says Michael Schätzle, Vice President of the brand’s Cayenne department.
At first glance, what you’re likely to notice – and admire – are the slanting roof, the aggressively wide tyres for superb grip, the strongly arched wings, a new bonnet, and the new, squarer shape of the technologically advanced HD matrix LED front lights with more than 32,000 pixels per headlamp.
Climb inside, and the cabin exudes both luxury and sport. The knurled transmission lever on the dashboard is short and chunky; the comfortable racing seats bend and arch in all sorts of directions like a Pilates instructor; the Drive Mode selector is a robust round dial that clicks into position. The highlight, perhaps, is the three-spoke steering wheel with gold edging and visible screws, telling you this is a performance car that can go fast. Very fast.
Tech is, of course, a major consideration in new cars these days, and the latest Cayenne has answered customers’ demands to stay connected. For the first time in the Cayenne, Porsche has integrated a large 10.9-inch infotainment display for the front passenger. For the driver, their own 12.6-inch screen features a completely revised display that is wonderfully simple to view while being idiot-proof.
Moving the transmission selector to the dashboard has cleared the way for a central control panel that is uncluttered, sleek and chic. The eye-catching feature here is the accessible air conditioning controls – knurled, shiny, sporty silver tabs. Pushing the symbol-bearing seat and fan icons on the elegant panel quickly sends jets of welcome cold air through the seat back.
Speaking of air, the new Cayenne has also brought in an air-quality system that detects the level of dust particles in the air, passing it through a filter – multiple times if necessary. More great news for those suffering from allergies is the car’s ioniser, which works to remove germs and pollutants.
Turning to performance, the new eight-speed Cayenne S Coupé has a four-litre biturbo V8 engine, giving 34 more units of horsepower than before. The SUV covers 0 to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 273 km/h. New shock absorbers ensure speed bumps are barely noticeable.
One last point – traditionally, a coupé should have two doors, but this has four. Frankly, who cares? Because when you see this magnificent machine on the driveway, you’re unlikely to quibble over the technical definition of what constitutes a coupé.
