The Porsche Cayenne is getting a facelift with a little more spice.
A more aggressive-looking Cayenne Coupe prototype was spied winter testing in a convoy with a facelifted 911.
The facelifted Porsche Cayenne wagon and coupe range is expected to debut at some point during 2022, with an expected Australian launch sometime during 2023.
It’s unclear whether this facelifted Cayenne will receive any powertrain changes compared to the existing model.
The 2022 Porsche Cayenne range is currently offered with a range of turbocharged and twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engines, as well as twin-turbocharged V8s.
There are also turbo V6 and twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Similarly to previously spied Cayenne wagon prototypes, this Cayenne Coupe prototype has a more aggressive front fascia with larger air intakes and a more sculpted bonnet.
The headlights have a sliver of camouflage tape around the outside of the units and also have a similar linear LED daytime running light signature to the ones previously spied on a next-generation Porsche Panamera prototype.
The side profile retains the same steeply-raked rear hatch as the existing model with a high-mounted rear spoiler.
At the rear of this spied prototype, there’s a light bar that appears to be production-ready although parts of it are covered in camouflage tape.
The location of the rear numberplate has also been relocated down near the rear diffuser.
Along with these minor exterior changes, we’ve previously seen spy photographs of the facelifted Cayenne’s new dash and centre console design.
Ahead of the driver was a digital instrument cluster featuring no analogue rev counter in the centre.
Currently, the Taycan is the only car in the Porsche range without an analogue rev counter with the current Cayenne, Panamera and 911 having variations of the brand’s classic five-dial design.
Previously spied Cayenne prototype
Porsche 718 and Macan models on the other hand have a three-dial setup.
Drawing inspiration from the 992-generation Porsche 911 sports car, a previous Cayenne prototype boasted a knobby, shaver-style shift-by-wire gear selector (similar to the current Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia) with a new arrangement for the air-conditioning controls.
The current Cayenne has a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and it’s unclear if the new infotainment system screen will be larger or not in the facelifted model.
Porsche recently announced it has added wireless Android Auto to the Cayenne, 911, Taycan and Panamera models. This is expected to carry over to the facelifted Cayenne.
Cayenne Coupe Turbo GT
The German automaker recently revealed a coupe-only Turbo GT variant that competes with the Audi RSQ8 and the Lamborghini Urus.
Set to arrive early this year, it’s priced from $336,100 before on-road costs.
It’s powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 471kW of power and 850Nm of torque. This is mated to a fast-shifting eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with drive sent to all four wheels.
Porsche added a new water cooler to the transfer case to stop it overheating when you’re really pushing it.
It’s also got a lightweight exhaust system made of titanium and is lacking its centre silencer, so it makes a bit more noise.
This hotter models not only receives powertrain tweaks but sits 17mm lower than the regular Turbo, and the air suspension is up to 15 per cent stiffer than before.
There’s a unique tune for the adaptive dampers, anti-roll system, and power steering as well.
Porsche says the nose has been reworked to turn in more sharply, with more aggressive torque vectoring and 0.45 degrees of extra negative camber combined with 22-inch golden wheels wrapped in unique Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.
Behind those wheels, which borrow plenty from the design fitted to the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, there are monstrous carbon-ceramic brakes.
To the end of February 2022, Porsche sold a total of 215 Cayennes: 102 wagons and 113 Cayenne Coupes.
It outsold the likes of the Volvo XC90 (121 sales), Audi Q7 (115 sales) and Range Rover Sport (102 sales), but was outsold by the BMW X5 (509 sales), Mercedes-Benz GLE wagon and coupe (415 combined sales), and the Lexus RX (228 sales).
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Keyword: 2022 Porsche Cayenne Coupe facelift spied