This is the third generation of the Porsche Cayenne – a large SUV with the emphasis very much on sportiness.
It’s available in two versions – the standard car with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo engine producing 340hp – and the Cayenne S, which has an all-new smaller 2.9-litre twin-turbo motor with 440hp.
What’s the difference?
Compared with the previous Cayenne, which took on the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport along with VW Group stablemates the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, this new car is 63mm longer and 9mm lower but has exactly the same length between front and rear wheels.
There’s 100 litres more luggage room in the 770-litre boot, while the suite of alloy wheels on offer are an inch wider across the range.
LED lighting is standard on the Cayenne, along with cornering headlights and night vision available for extra cash.
Porsche Cayenne 2018: performance
Thanks to 450Nm of torque, the standard Cayenne will cover 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 152mph.
The Cayenne S gets 550Nm, and so covers 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 165mph.
Will the 2018 Porsche Cayenne work off-road?
All the indications point to the new Cayenne being a proficient off-roader. Its 4x4 looks are backed up with a technologically advanced all-wheel drive system and new eight-speed automatic gearbox called Tiptronic S.
This latter feature has been improved thanks to sportier gear ratios in lower gears and a longer eighth ratio for better cruising capability.
There’s a quartet of new driving modes especially for off-roading, called Mud, Gravel, Sand or Rocks, which will prepare the car for each of those scenarios accordingly.
Optional air suspension, rear-wheel steering and active roll stabilisation similar to the Audi Q7’s are also available to help enhance the Cayenne’s capabilities, while the car is lighter than ever before, which also helps its on-road performance.
Porsche Cayenne’s Sport Chrono Package
As with the previous Cayenne, Porsche offers the optional Sport Chrono Package for those who want to go faster still. It shaves 0.3 seconds off both 0-62mph times above by adding Normal, Sport and Sport+ drive modes plus an Individual setting to allow the driver to configure the car’s driving characteristics to suit their personal requirements.
Configurable settings include engine and gearbox responses along with the car’s electronic stability control system.
Tech-heavy cabin design
The 2018 Cayenne sports a virtual cockpit similar to Audi’s, but with a traditional analogue rev-counter taking centre stage to emphasise the sporty nature of the Cayenne. Two 7.0-inch screens sit each side providing the driver with trip computer or navigation instructions.
The multimedia system includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the central console, while both Bose and Burmester hi-fi upgrades will be available as part of the car’s optional extras roster.
When can I order a 2018 Porsche Cayenne?
Order books are open now for the new Cayenne, with first deliveries from April 2018. The standard car will cost from £55,965 while the Cayenne S starts from £68,330.
We’ve yet to see full UK specifications for the car but will update this story when they appear.
