Updated Porsche Cayenne revealed – South African pricing and model line-up

What’s new
More power
Price
Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid
Porsche Cayenne S
Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT

Porsche today unveiled the updated third-generation Cayenne, which has undergone one of the most in-depth mid-life overhauls the automaker has ever done.

The SUV debuts with a redesigned cabin, new chassis technologies, as well as enhanced “high-tech features,” said Porsche.

In South Africa, it will be offered in Standard, S, e-Hybrid, and Turbo GT derivatives, as well as in normal and coupe body styles, resulting in a total of seven specifications.

Market launch and customer deliveries for the Cayenne are scheduled for the second half of 2023, the local arm of Porsche confirmed to TopAuto, with the SUV retailing from a starting price of R1,848,000.

What’s new

The new Cayenne boasts a fresh appearance by means of a redesigned front end with more strongly arched wings, a new bonnet, reshaped headlights, a “three-dimensional” lightbar at the back, and a new rear apron with an integrated number plate holder.

Additionally, the entire line-up now benefits from the standard fitment of automatic Matrix LED headlights, with HD Matrix LED lights as an option; and three new paints, lightweight sports packages that save up to 33kg, and an extensive range of wheels measuring between 20 and 22 inches are available for further customisation.

Opening the door reveals the brand’s new digitised operating concept, which includes a 12.6-inch driver’s cluster flanked by a 12.3-inch infotainment system in the middle of the dash with Apple Music and Spotify pre-loaded.

For the first time on a Cayenne, a 10.9-inch screen can now be installed for the front passenger, too, providing performance data, separate access to media controls, and, depending on the market, the option of streaming video.

“A special foil ensures that the driver cannot see this display,” said Porsche.

Building on its newfound modernity, the cabin’s front fascia has been redesigned with a focus on the driver, and all the functions they frequently use are now located directly on or immediately next to the steering wheel.

This includes a transmission lever that has moved to the dashboard, leaving space on the centre console for the climate control settings on a clean gloss black panel.

The upgraded Cayenne then sees standard fitment of an active speed limiter with swerve assist, cornering assist, the improved Porsche InnoDrive adaptive cruise control, and a new air quality system that “uses predictive navigation data to detect approaching tunnel entrances and automatically activates air recirculation,” said the company.

On the extras list, buyers will also find a heads-up display.

More power

The new Cayenne brings with it three different engine options, including a plug-in hybrid, turbocharged V6, and two bi-turbocharged V8s.

The base model sports the 3.0-litre, V6, turbo-petrol setup producing 260kW and 500Nm, an improvement of 10kW and 50Nm over its predecessor.

The e-Hybrid uses the V6 as a basis and adds to it a new 130kW electric motor for a total output of 346kW.

Thanks to the high-voltage 25.9kWh battery, which is 6kWh more than before, this specification also provides up to 90 kilometres of all-electric driving and reports a combined fuel consumption of 1.5-1.8l/100km.

With its new 11kW on-board AC charger, the e-Hybrid can charge from 0-100% in two-and-a-half hours.

For the facelift, the Cayenne S abandoned the V6 engine it used before for a refined version of the 4.0-litre, bi-turbo V8 found in the flagship Turbo GT.

As such, the new S generates 349kW and 600Nm – 25kW and 50Nm more than the old one – resulting in a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 273km/h.

At the top of the range sits the bonkers Turbo GT, which has seen a 14kW tune-up for a power cap of 485kW and 850Nm.

This ensures a mind-boggling 0-100km/h dash of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 305km/h.