Big upgrades but more modest price increases for Porsche’s biggest SUV
After months of elaborate previews, the comprehensively updated 2023 Porsche Cayenne has made its global debut at Auto Shanghai today, before first customer cars arrive Down Under in the third quarter of this year.
Now priced from $140,200 plus on-road costs in base wagon guise and from $148,200 plus ORCs in Coupe form, the biggest upgrade for the third-generation Cayenne since its launch in 2017 predictably brings price hikes across the range.
Rather than slapping a new face and tail on its best-selling large SUV, Porsche has overhauled the Cayenne in almost every key area, with significant technology, chassis and powertrain upgrades driving the entry price up by almost $6000.
This price hike is nothing compared to that of the flagship Turbo GT Coupe, however, which is now priced from $366,200 plus ORCs – an increase of more than $14,000.
All Cayenne powertrains have been treated to more grunt as part of the upgrade, including the entry-level 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 which now develops 260kW/500Nm (+10kW/50Nm).
The next-level-up Cayenne S (from $181,000 plus ORCs), meanwhile, has ditched six-cylinder power all together and now comes with a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 good for 349kW/600Nm, slashing its 0-100km/h time to 4.7 seconds.
Hybrid versions (from $155,900) also incorporate the uprated V6 as well as a more powerful electric motor – now 130kW – to boost their combined outputs to 346kW (+6kW), but the real upgrades come in the form of the new 25.9kWh battery pack and 11kW on-board charger.
Porsche hasn’t made any range extension claims for the new Cayenne E-Hybrid, but says charging times have been shortened – we just don’t know by how much (yet).
Meantime, another 14kW has been extracted from the monstrous Turbo GT’s force-fed V8, meaning the Cayenne flagship now churns out 485kW/850Nm – although its 0-100km/h claim remains 3.3sec, matching the closely related Lamborghini Urus Performante as well as the Aston Martin DBX707 and Ferrari Purosangue.
Accompanying the extra grunt on all variants are new steel coil springs and a retuned adaptive damping system for the two-valve shock absorbers, which Porsche says improves ride quality – especially at lower speeds – as well as handling.
Two-chamber adaptive air suspension is optionally available.
Anyone familiar with the Porsche Taycan’s interior will feel at home in the new Cayenne because the latter now features the same ‘Porsche Driver Experience’ dashboard layout that groups frequently used controls together around the steering wheel.
The gear selector is one such control that’s been relocated up to the dashboard, freeing up a heap of extra space on the redesigned centre console and making room for a large new climate control unit.
All 2023 Cayenne variants will come with a 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, while infotainment duties will be handled by a 12.3-inch touch-screen.
A third 10.9-inch display showing performance data and separate infotainment controls is optionally available for the first time and, to ensure drivers don’t become distracted by what the passenger is viewing, it’s covered in a special privacy film.
Other key spec changes include the adoption of Matrix LED headlights, wireless phone charging and Active Parking Support with 3D Surround View for all variants, plus 20-inch wheels for the base Cayenne and E-Hybrid, ventilated seats for the Cayenne S and soft-closed doors for the Turbo GT.
How much does the 2023 Porsche Cayenne cost?
Cayenne – $140,200 (+$5900)
Cayenne Coupe – $148,200 (+$3100)
E-Hybrid – $155,900 (+$5000)
E-Hybrid Coupe – $161,600 (+$2100)
S – $181,000 (+$5700)
S Coupe – $190,000 (+$5000)
GT Turbo – $366,200 (+$14,300)
* Prices exclude on-road costs
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Keyword: SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: 2023 Porsche Cayenne revealed