Porsche Cayenne Coupe. Pursuit of perfection
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is a five-seater sports all-wheel drive premium SUV with a coupe-like silhouette. It has been produced by Porsche (Germany) since 2019. There are petrol and hybrid versions, as well as especially powerful modifications. In 2021, Israeli buyers could purchase the first generation SUV.
The Cayenne is an incredibly successful Porsche model that has largely predicted the development of the global car market and its path towards urban SUVs. This vehicle evokes associations with two words: speed and prestige. This is one of the few cars that can drive on the track and off-road. Its coupe-like brother, Cayenne Coupe, has absorbed the best features of the brand’s bestseller, multiplying and embellishing them. It has satisfied the growing demand for cars with this body type by competing with the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe. The Cayenne Coupe has a lot to offer, in addition to the dynamic rear end design, which should evoke associations with real coupes of this brand, for example, the 911.
The first generation
It has been produced from 2019 to the present (as of 2021). The new Porsche Cayenne Coupe is built on the MLB Evo platform with a longitudinally mounted front-engine and a high content of high-strength steels. The vehicle is equipped with a multi-link independent suspension. The ground clearance directly depends on the position of the pneumatic elements. In order to increase stability on the highway, the vehicle is able to ‘squat’ up to 190 mm. When driving off-road, you need to activate a special mode to increase the ground clearance to 245 mm. The wheelbase of the Coupe (2,895 mm) is the same as that of the regular Cayenne. The coupe-like SUV is 13 mm longer (4,931 mm) and 20 mm lower (1,676 mm) than a ‘simple’ Cayenne, whereas their width is the same (1,983 mm). The Cayenne Turbo Coupe is 4,939 mm long (+13 mm to the Cayenne Turbo), 1,989 (+6 mm) wide and 1,653 high (–20 mm).
A sloping shape of the rear end has slightly reduced the roominess. Due to the flatter roof slope, the coupe-like SUV offers only 625 liters versus 770 liters as offered by a regular model. If you fold out the rear row, this figure rises to 1,540 liters. The backrests of the backseat are flush with the floor when unfolded.
Off-road performance is the same. An air suspension (option for the basic Coupe) and electronic assistants are of great help. The rear view camera along with the license plate has moved to the bumper.
Exterior
The silhouette of the new model is reminiscent of the legendary 911. It features a more sloping and narrower trunk lid. It has a small duck tail spoiler and interconnected brake lights. The license plate mount has moved to the rear bumper. The roof is 20 mm lower.
The Cayenne Turbo of the latest generation features a top spoiler with a retractable plate, whereas the Cayenne Coupe has a static spoiler. The spoiler, located under the rear window, is installed on all the Coupes, not just on the Turbo version. It extends at speeds of 90 km/h and above and automatically retracts when decelerating to 60 km/h.
The drag coefficient is the same for both Cayenne models and is equal to 0.34. But the diameter of all base wheels of the Cayenne Coupe is an inch larger compared to the base Cayenne. Thus, it equals to 20 inches for the ‘simple’ Coupe and the S-version, and 21 inches for the Turbo Coupe. Just like the Turbo versions of the regular Cayenne, the Turbo Coupe features the front dual strips LED instead of single ones.
Interior
The coupe-like SUV and the standard model look similar at the front. All four USB ports are Type-C. The lowered roof does not affect anyone’s comfort, whereas the lowered doors make it slightly more difficult to get in and out. The passenger compartment is spacious. There is more than enough legroom for the rear passengers. The vehicle provides sufficient headroom, and its reserve does not depend on whether it is a basic roof with a fixed panoramic glass or carbon fiber one (part of the lightweight Sport package). This is because the backseat is lowered by 30 mm (due to the absence of the longitudinal adjustment).
Equipment
As befits the premium segment, even the basic trim levels of the 2019/2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe have a wide range of options. The SUV is standardly equipped with six airbags, 20-inch alloy wheels, panoramic roof, sports package, Power Steering Plus steering, parking assistant with front and rear sensors and a rear-view camera, adaptive suspension, Sport Chrono package, electric drive and heated front seats, 2-zone climate control, a multimedia system with a 12.3-inch screen and premium acoustics.
Engines and modifications
All the models are all-wheel drive. All of them are equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Petrol engines:
- Basic Cayenne Coupe: A 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine generating 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 6 seconds; top speed is 243 km/h; consumption amounts to 9.3 liters per 100 km in a combined cycle.
- Cayenne Coupe S: A 3-liter V6 turbo engine with 440 hp and 550 Nm of torque. Acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 5 seconds; top speed is 263 km/h. Average fuel consumption is 9.4 liters per 100 km.
- Cayenne Turbo Coupe: A 4-liter 550-horsepower (700 Nm of torque) V8 turbo engine characterized by high efficiency, and excellent exhaust sound, dynamic start from a standstill. By the way, with Performance Start, the slingshot becomes even more dynamic. Acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 3.9 seconds; top speed is 286 km/h. Fuel consumption is 11.3 liters per 100 km under the same conditions.
Hybrid engines:
- Basic version: A 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine with 340 hp. Acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 5.1 seconds; top speed amounts to 253 km/h.
- Powerful version: A 4-liter 550-hp (700 Nm of torque) V8 turbocharged engine. Acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 3.8 seconds; " top speed amounts to 295 km/h.
