Sporty derivative of the brand’s popular SUV takes the fight straight to the Audi Q8, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
Ah, what the Cayenne should have always been…
Porsche has developed a second body style for the Cayenne SUV. Called Cayenne Coupe, the new sporty SUV derv is aimed at the Audi Q8, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
Like in its key rivals, the Cayenne Coupe features a raked roofline which is 20mm lower than in the regular model. As well, the rear end is 18mm wider to support the Cayenne Coupe’s dynamic and sporty stance.
The interior is basically Cayenne fanfare, but rear passengers sit lower than in the more family-oriented model. Boot space is slightly smaller, too.
There’s a large glass roof in the Cayenne Coupe, although buyers can opt for a carbon roof for a racy appeal. Also available to choose from is either two- or three-seat rear bench.
Is there any engine to match the Lambo Urus?
Two petrol-turbo engines have been announced initially for the Cayenne Coupe when sales start by mid-year.
The normal Cayenne Coupe gets 340hp 2.9-litre V6 good for 0-100kph in 6.0sec, while the Turbo variant receives 550hp 4.0-litre V8 cutting the time by a good 2.1sec.
To help for a more surefooted performance, the Cayenne Coupe has active spoilers on the rear. Porsche hasn’t mentioned whether the chassis has been beefed up or not.
The Cayenne Coupe Turbo has what it takes to beat the X6 M and GLE63 Coupe in acceleration terms, although it’s still slightly inferior to the Lamborghini Urus, a sister-model within the VW Group that has a higher 650hp of power from the same bi-turbo V8 for a quicker 3.6sec sprint time.
Is there any plug-in hybrid?
At the moment, Porsche hasn’t revealed anything about this. That means that the regular Cayenne, with a tax-beating plug-in hybrid available in Thailand, should still sell more due to its 6.8 million baht price tag.
The Cayenne Coupe, meanwhile, would cost around 8-9 million baht in entry-level form and slightly over 10 million baht in Turbo outfit. That’s about half of what the Urus asks for in Thailand in price.
However, people at Porsche say the Cayenne Coupe will be an important model for the brand. As you suggested earlier, the Cayenne Coupe defines what a sporty SUV should be like. And Porsches are always about sportiness.
The arrival of the Cayenne Coupe is timely because the X6 and GLE Coupe are aging fast in their current generations.
