Believe it or not, the current Porsche Cayenne and its variants have been around for approximately five years, meaning they’re ripe for a midcycle refresh. While any changes to the exterior are expected to be evolutionary, it seems the cabin is in for a significant rework.
Caught on the (not so) mean streets of Colorado, these test mules wear some decal camouflage and a smattering of fake vents on its front bumper in an effort to trick our eyes into seeing something that isn’t actually there. Looking beyond the veneer, it’s clear the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupé will usher in a slimmer set of headlamps plus a bumper/grille combo which cranks up the visual aggression. If the entry-level trims exhibit this level of bellicosity, the inevitable GTS model will probably look like it’s about to eat all the other cars in traffic. Still, from a design standpoint, it’ll be pure Porsche.
However, more expansive changes are on their way to the Cayenne’s cabin. An all-new centre console sprouts from the floorboards, packing a covered storage cubby at its fore followed by a bank of rocker-style switches and what appears to be a control dial of some sort located within arm’s reach of the driver. Gone are the trademark bank of buttons which used to flank the old mechanical shifter — unless they are haptic devices which are not illuminated in certain conditions. There is a lot of piano black trim in that space on this test car, after all.
Of far more interest to these jaundiced eyes is the so-called ‘shaver’ gear lever springing forth from the dashboard to the left of this mule’s infotainment screen. First seen on the 992-gen 911, it operates like an oversized light switch to engage drive or reverse gear. Shifting to park is handed by that oddly shaped button above the shifter. While this configuration surely frees up console space, it’ll be railed against by Porsche purists as yet another nail in the coffin of ‘real Porsches.’ The company, for its part, will simply laugh all the way to the bank. Besides, shifter paddles still sprout from behind the steering wheel and a manettino-style dial remains adjacent to the driver’s right thumb. And the world turns.
Expect the 2023 Cayenne and its variants to begin appearing later this year.
Keyword: Spied! 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupé flashes new interior