Search: more on the Porsche Cayenne
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Porsche enthusiasts may have seen the introduction of the first-generation Cayenne SUV as a dilution of the sporting brand, but be in no doubt the outgoing car leaves a lasting legacy. The Cayenne is Porsche's most successful car in terms of worldwide sales since its launch back in 2003, with over 280,000 sold and 14,000 of these going to UK buyers.
Now the second-generation Cayenne has arrived in the UK with new interior and exterior styling, the latest technology, including a parallel full hybrid drive and it's lighter too. Can it still offer the Porsche driving magic? We headed to the New Forest to find out.
More harmonious exterior styling?
One of the major complaints of the first-generation Cayenne was its exterior styling. Porsche had tried to morph a 911-like nose to a tall SUV-body and the result was hardly pretty. Even a face-lift in 2007 couldn't hide the Cayenne's bulk, even if it did sharpen the trout-pout. The exterior styling of the latest car is far more attractive, with its softer curves giving the illusion that the new car is smaller, when actually its wheelbase has in fact been extended by 40mm.
The Cayenne’s face still has the characteristic grilles, but it’s a much sleeker look with the swept-back head and driving lamps similar to the Panamera four-seater. From the side, apart from the coupe-like roof line, the most interesting part of the design has to be the way the rear light clusters curve up the rear quarters. These distinctive rear lights have LED lighting and work well with the sculpted boot, its neatly integrated spoiler and bumper.
Tech highlights
Among the advanced features fitted to the new Cayenne are a number of innovations which are offered for the first time in this off-roader. These include a 8-speed Tiptronic S gearbox with start/stop technology, which both work to increase efficiency. However, most important is the Parallel full hybrid drive fitted in the Cayenne S Hybrid. Designed to offer V8 performance with V6 economy, the 333bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 works in conjunction with a 47bhp electric motor that can drive on full electric power at speeds up to 40mph.
The result is 380bhp, 580 Nm of torque, yet it has Co2 emissions of 193g/km (the lowest in the Porsche range) and a combined fuel consumption figure of 34.4mpg. The cleverest feature of the Hybrid has to be the sailing feature, where the engine cuts off at speeds of up to 97mph, improving petrol consumption.
Attractive interior?
Inside, the new Cayenne it feels remarkably similar to the Panamera. This is because of the raised centre console, with the switchgear mounted alongside the gearshifter. Overall the latest Cayenne's interior is a much more attractive, user-friendly place to be.
