Even though it was the first model to break the mold for Porsche, the Cayenne has gathered quite a lot of fans during its lifecycle. Now, the Stuttgart company is preparing to improve the breed and will launch the next generation luxury SUV in a few months.
But before then, it seems that the official details about the new generation have already been leaked, and reported on by the guys at Autocar. These pieces of information cover everything from the new engines, to the hybrid and the weight shedding process through which the Cayenne has gone through.
First off, the Porsche SUV will come in a choice of three petrol engines: the entry-level 300 HP 3.6-liter V6, the 400 HP naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 (which will be in the Cayenne S) and the 500 HP turbocharged 4.8-liter V8, for the Cayenne Turbo. Of course, a diesel model will also appear, using the Volkswagen’s 240 HP 3.0-liter V6.
Arguably one of the most important things about this new generation Cayenne will be the fact that you can choose a hybrid model, which will use an Audi-developed 333 HP 3.0-liter V6 running in tandem with a 47 HP electric motor which draws its juice from a pack of lithium-ion batteries. The setup used will also appear on the Panamera hybrid, and will allow the electric motor to power the Cayenne completely, albeit for a short amount of time.
The new Cayenne generation will be more efficient, according to Porsche, as fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 23%, and three out of the five SUVs will register a figure above 28 mpg on the combined European cycle. The hybrid, of course, will be the most efficient one, boasting 34.5 mpg and under 200 g/km of CO2.
Porsche managed to shave a lot of weight from its chunky SUV, which although boasts a slimmer figure, will offer even more space inside, especially for the rear passengers, which despite the big size of the last generation, were a bit cramped. The boot also saw its capacity increased to a standard 670 liters, but with the folded rear seats, it will easily fit 1780 liters.
Last but not least, Porsche will use a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, complete with auto start stop functionality and brake energy regeneration. Even though the separate transfer case for the low range gearing has been eliminated, the German engineers claim that the Cayenne will hold its own in off road conditions, and on the road will easily beat the BMW X6, which they considered their main rival.
Overall, the new Cayenne definitely sounds good. Until a final unveiling though, which will happen at the Geneva Motor Show, we still need to wait.
Source: Autocar
