The New Cayenne Finally Debuts!

The Japanese launch date for the new Cayenne is fast approaching on July 21! After that, it seems likely that Porsche dealers across the country will hold test drive events. So far, three models have been announced: the Cayenne, Cayenne S, and Cayenne Turbo, and it’s been confirmed that the plug-in hybrid “E-Hybrid” will be added to the lineup soon.

Porsche says that this full model change for the Cayenne is “not just an improvement of the previous model, but a completely new development.”

① Exterior design with a more Porsche-like streamlined silhouette
…closer in style to the new Panamera
② Adoption of a new 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission
…a transmission focused on efficiency and driving enjoyment, with paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel
③ New development of two types of 6-cylinder engines
…featuring the new 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder turbo engines that debuted in the Panamera. Engine displacement is reduced, but output and torque exceed the previous generation
④ Standard adoption of an actively controlled 4WD system
⑤ LED headlights as standard equipment
⑥ Trunk capacity increased by 100 liters

That’s the gist of it.

A Roundup of Articles About the New Cayenne

Since the Japanese launch is on July 21, many test drive articles may appear online after that, but information is still scarce at the moment. So, including overseas videos, here’s a roundup of information about the new Cayenne! Let’s start with articles.

[Latest Info on the New Porsche Cayenne] Launch Date July 21! What About Prices and Performance with the PHV Model? (2018/5/28)
* Summarizes the differences and specs compared to the current model based on the press conference.

[Test Drive of the New Cayenne | Porsche (2018/1/25)]
* A motor journalist, Hirohisa Kaneko, reports on a test drive of the European-spec new Cayenne.

[Test Drive of the Third-Generation Porsche New Cayenne: Flawless Excellence (2017/11/14)]
* Covers engine, design, interior, and differences from the previous model.

[New Cayenne Conquers the Caucasus Mountains (Official Porsche Japan Site)]
* A report on endurance testing of the new Cayenne S in the Caucasus Mountains spanning Asia and Europe (Azerbaijan).

[Porsche Announces New Cayenne E-Hybrid! 0-100 km/h in 5.0 Seconds, Fuel Efficiency 31.2 km/L! (5/3)]
Introduces the performance and specs of the new Cayenne E-Hybrid.

Overall, the reviews are full of praise, saying things like “no weak points” and “flawless in every aspect.” Is it really that good? (ﾟ∀ﾟ)
Compared to the Bentley Bentayga and Audi Q7, the Cayenne is lighter, so it offers sharper and more direct driving than SUVs in the same class.

It’s probably perfect for those who want to enjoy sports car-like engine performance in an SUV, or those seeking a luxurious SUV.

What About Videos of the New Cayenne?

Looking into videos, there aren’t many good ones in Japan yet… maybe because it’s before the launch and test drives aren’t widely available. The few that exist mostly just say “test drive” but don’t actually show one or provide commentary.

【2019 Porsche New Cayenne Turbo Interior and Exterior with Test Drive (10:05)】
Although it says test drive, there’s no commentary; it’s basically a 10-minute Porsche Cayenne promotional video.

In cases like this, searching on YouTube in English brings up more results. Let’s start with official Porsche videos.

[The new Porsche Cayenne. Sportscar Together. (1:49)]
An official Porsche video, very stylishly shot. As expected.

[The new Porsche Cayenne – Comfort (1:41)]
Official Porsche video introducing navigation, touch panels, trunk, park assist, and more.

[The new Porsche Cayenne – Driver Assistance (1:02)]
Official Porsche video about driver assistance features (adaptive cruise control, night vision, etc.). No voiceover, but the visuals clearly explain the features.

Next is a very easy-to-understand video not from Porsche official.

[Porsche Cayenne Turbo 2018 review – A perfect mix of luxury and performance? | Autocar (36:44)]
A clear test drive review. Clicking “subtitles” shows English captions, so you can barely catch what’s being said. I wish I could speak English better (lol).

[The New Porsche Cayenne 2018 | NEW FULL Review Interior Exterior (14:36)]
A video focused on interior and exterior. It carefully shows the trunk and doors open, and provides detailed commentary on the interior and steering wheel.

There are many more videos in English, so I plan to watch others when I have time.

Is a New Cayenne Coupe Coming Too!?

While researching the new Cayenne, I found this article.

Porsche Cayenne Coupe to Arrive in 2019, Taking on BMW X6 and Audi Q8

Since last year, I’ve often seen web news speculating that Porsche might announce a Cayenne Coupe. But most were just guesses and I wasn’t sure how credible they were—until now, it seems to be confirmed.
The article says, “Oliver Blume, who leads Porsche, has given the green light for a coupe version of the third-generation Cayenne. According to sources in Porsche’s development department, the UK launch is planned for Q4 2019.”

So the new Cayenne comes out in 2018, and the new Cayenne Coupe follows in 2019. Maybe it’s a similar pattern to the Panamera and Panamera Sport Turismo.

I can’t wait to test drive the Cayenne soon!

Later, I went to the “The New Cayenne Debut Fair” and shared my impressions and photos in this article.

→[Reference Article] Went to the New Cayenne Debut Fair! Impressions and Photos of the Actual Car