In a marathon, the race is only decided in the final phase. The wheat is usually only separated from the chaff at the notorious kilometer 35. Anyone who has not prepared well, has started too quickly or has neglected the energy level will get a so-called branch and collapse. What does this excursion into athletics have to do with the facelift of the Porsche Cayenne? A whole lot! Because the refresh must remain attractive until the end of the decade, because an electric SUV flagship will be launched at the same time. The vitamin boost is correspondingly extensive. This comprehensive revision is not entirely without a bitter pill. The famous Cayenne Turbo GT, now with 485 kW / 660 hp, will no longer be available in Europe due to emissions regulations.
Even if the Power Cayenne dies in Europe, a lot is happening with the drives. The S version now has eight cylinders instead of the previous six. In order to meet the EU 7 emissions standard, the Zuffenhausen technicians have extensively revised the eighth. Instead of a twin-scroll turbocharger, the mono-scroll variant now presses the air into the combustion chambers. So that the response does not suffer, the turbine is designed smaller than before. A refined software application and an injection pressure increased from 250 bar to 350 bar complete the package of measures. The beefed-up Cayenne S delivers 349 kW / 474 hp and a maximum torque of 650 Newton meters, which is 26 kW / 35 hp and 50 Nm more than before. The basic model with 260 kW / 353 hp and 500 Nm (previously 250 kW / 340 hp, 450 Nm) retains the six-cylinder.
Nothing works today without electrification. A lot has changed in detail compared to the previous Cayenne E-Hybrid. The performance increase in the PHEV drive train is kept within manageable limits with an increase of 6 kW / 8 PS to 346 kW / 470 PS and a maximum torque of 650 Nm, which is 50 Nm less than before. On the other hand, there is a lot going on when it comes to the power distribution of the two drive units: the V6 petrol engine in the current model has an output of 250 kW / 340 hp and the electric motor 100 kW / 136 hp, with the facelift it is 224 kW / 304 hp for the combustion engine and 130 kW / 177 hp at the electric machine. This improves all-electric drivability, efficiency and acceleration.
Appropriately, the battery capacity increases from 17.9 kilowatt hours to 25.9 kWh and gives the part-time electrician a maximum electric range of around 90 kilometers. The reason for this are 102 larger cells (still prismatic, before 104) and thus the battery is slightly larger, weighs 35 kilograms more than before at 165 kilograms, but still fits into the rear end of the E3 II without body shell changes (internal code of the Cayenne facelift ). Thanks to the new 11 kW onboard charger, the batteries can be recharged in less than 2.5 hours.
So that the tuning of the drive train does not fizzle out, the chassis must also keep up. Luxury or electrification – the Porsche Cayenne is still defined by agility and dynamics. The changes to the chassis are extensive: Instead of a three-chamber air spring with a one-valve damper, there is now a semi-active chassis with a two-chamber air spring with an adaptive two-valve damper, in which the rebound and compression stages are changed separately can be. This results in a more direct connection to the body, which helps with agility. To ensure that the coupé does justice to its sporty silhouette, Porsche offers lightweight sports packages for this Cayenne with a weight saving of up to 33 kilograms.
So that the passengers feel comfortable, the interior designers have refurnished the beautiful living ambience. A good breeze now blows through the interior of the Cayenne Taycan with three screens that take up almost the entire width of the cockpit and thus make the interior of the SUV look significantly more modern. The instrument cluster is now curved like the e-sports sedan and measures 12.65 inches, the center touchscreen remains at 12.3 inches and the passenger screen is 10.9 inches. As with the Porsche Stromer, a special film on this monitor ensures that the driver cannot see what is happening on this display.
Something is also happening with the equipment. From July 2023, the Cayenne will roll through the night with Matrix LED lights as standard. If you want even more perspective, you can get the HD matrix LED headlights in the car, which are available for a surcharge, and they illuminate the road even more precisely with more than 32,000 pixels per headlight. A “predictive” standard air conditioning system ensures fresh air: If the navigation data indicate that a tunnel is on the way, the system switches to air recirculation shortly before entering the tunnel. Allergy sufferers also benefit from the clever ventilation. If a sensor reports a high concentration of fine dust particles in the air, the filter is blown through and, if necessary, an ionizer frees the air from many germs and pollutants, as is known from other luxury SUVs.
That leaves the prices: the new Porsche Cayenne costs at least 89,097 euros (previously 82,909 euros) and the coupé is available from 93,143 euros (previously 89,930 euros). For the Cayenne E-Hybrid, Porsche charges 103,344 euros (Coupé 106,352 euros) and for the Cayenne S from 107,542 euros (Coupé from 112,778 euros).
