Spicy
Porsche has not yet taken the wraps off the all-new Cayenne, but it has afforded us a sneak preview of the flagship SUV’s new-look interior.
The new Cayenne will be officially revealed at the Shanghai motor show next month, but Porsche is already showing off a high-tech cabin that borrows from the Taycan electric saloon.
Out goes the old instrument cluster that combined analogue and digital screens to great effect, replaced with a curved 12.6in fully digital display. It’s much the same as the system used in the Taycan, and it’s joined by the electric Taycan’s dash-mounted gear selector and a similar head-up display that’s projected onto the windscreen.
As before, the ignition switch will be by the steering column, but new to the Cayenne is the optional 10.9in passenger display, which effectively gives passengers their own screen that cannot be seen from the driver’s seat, allowing them to watch videos on the move.
Other additions include a new steering wheel taken from the Porsche 911, and there’s a new control lever for the driver assistance systems.
The Taycan-inspired features hint at Porsche’s plans to build a pure-electric Cayenne, with the zero-emission version of the SUV joining the Porsche stable in 2026 alongside the forthcoming electric version of the smaller Macan.
Aside from that, the Cayenne is expected to maintain much the same engine line-up as the existing car, with V6 and V8 petrol motors forming the main body of the range, and plug-in hybrid versions (called E-Hybrids in Porsche parlance) supplementing those. Some minor changes are expected — particularly for the hybrids — but overall the new Cayenne is rumoured to offer more of the same.
- What is a plug-in hybrid vehicle?
- 2018 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid review
That said, it is not yet clear whether the high-performance Cayenne GT model will survive this update, even though spy shots of development cars suggest the popular fastback-inspired Cayenne Coupé (on which the GT is based) will continue.
Although the range is not expected to differ massively, though, the on-board technology certainly will represent a step up.
Not only does the new Cayenne get Porsche’s latest infotainment system — something already seen on the current Cayenne — but the new passenger display will offer those in the front seat the chance to stream video through the Screenhits TV service. The system will work on both front screens when the car is stationary, but when the vehicle is in motion it will only display on the passenger’s display, which is protected by a special foil to prevent the driver viewing it.
Porsche says it has also “comprehensively expanded” the Cayenne’s connectivity offering, including a cooled smartphone storage area that allows the wireless charging capability to be delivered up to 15 watts. Porsche has also added Siri voice assistant tech to operate some vehicle functions, while there are USB-C ports for rapid wired device charging, and a QR code enables devices to be paired with the car more easily.
However, although Porsche has certainly added plenty of digital technology, the company appears to be listening to widespread criticism of the move away from physical switchgear in the automotive world. The climate control switches in the new Cayenne, for example, include mechanical buttons and haptic, touch-sensitive switches, while there’s still a physical volume controller.
That in itself is a clue that Porsche knows luxury is about more than technology. As a result, the German company has gone to the trouble of making small changes such as new air outlets without louvres, and new trim designs for the upper parts of the door cards.
Although the new images show us how the updated Cayenne’s cabin will look, there’s still no word on the exterior design, engine range or pricing. But we won’t have to wait too long for more information, with the wraps due to come off the new Cayenne in Shanghai on April 18.
- After reading about the interior of the new Porsche Cayenne, you might be interested to read about the limited-edition Porsche 911 Dakar
- Watch Porsche a set new electric Nürburgring lap record – beating Tesla Model S Plaid
- And don’t miss our track review of the pure-electric Porsche Taycan GTS
Keyword: Porsche teases new Cayenne with refreshed interior ahead of Chinese debut