The time for third gen Porsche Cayenne to be finally unveiled has come. After months of grueling wait and anticipation, mitigated by series of leaked photos, we finally came to the point when Porsche unveiled their crown jewel SUV. This all-new, third gen model comes with a new look, a much more space inside, and equally important, a lower overall weight.
The look
The visual department made a huge step forward with a new sleek design further emphasized with a more horizontal look to the front grille and the taillights. You can’t mistake this SUV for any other because it is a pure Cayenne with big swept-back headlights, a long creased hood that hints a powerful engine lies underneath, and a roof spoiler above the sloped rear window. A new thing made it to the back, and it is in the form of full-width taillights that very closely mirror those of the 911 and Panamera.
The size
The wheelbase of the 2019 Cayenne hasn’t changed. It still has that 114-inch wheelbase as its predecessor, but the total length has increased for 3 inches and now, this vehicle, comes at 194 inches. Thanks to this bump in length you have a lot more space inside the cabin and around 15% more space in the trunk (with rear seats raised). Of course, 90% of you out there think when the car “grows” a bit it instantly gains in weight. Well, sorry to disappoint, this is not the case here. Despite the additional 3 inches in length, the Cayenne S managed to lose up to 143 pounds compared to its predecessor’s while base version is 121 pounds lighter. That has been achieved thanks to the bigger usage of aluminum for exterior body panels, the floor pan and “virtually all of the chassis components.” The engineers went as far as putting in a lithium-polymer starter battery, which itself saves 22 pounds (inspired by the one in 911 GT3).
2019 Caynne Engine
The 2019 model will be launched in base Cayenne and Cayenne S models, where the entry level variant will boast with a turbocharged 3.0 L V6 capable of offering 340 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque (40 HP more than last year’s base Cayenne), while the S variant will offer a biturbocharged 2.9 L V6 with 440 HP (around 20 HP more than last year’s S model) and 406 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the weight loss of the 2019 Porsche Cayenne, as well as power increase, performances also improved, and the 2019 model will be able to hit 62 MPH (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds (1.7 seconds quicker than its predecessor) and top out at 152 MPH. The Cayenne S, on the other side, reaches 62 MPH in 4.9 seconds, which is around a half second quicker than before, and will top out at 165 MPH. The good news is that Porsche upgraded its eight-speed automatic transmission and made it standard on both models, as well as the AWD.
The suspension
The company made sure that Porsche Active Suspension Management (adaptive damping) is on the options list for the Cayenne and standard on the S trim. Company’s air suspension now has three air chambers that will offer a “finer degree of specific calibration,” and there is the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Controls which are now controlled by a 48-volt electrical system for faster responses. One more option that falls in this category is the Porsche Surface Coated Brake, and it is basically special tungsten-carbide coating on the steel brake rotors which improves the brakes’ friction coefficient but reduces brake dusting, and the catch is that it will be available on models with 20 or 21-inch wheels.
The tech
The 2019 Porsche Cayenne models will be offered with InnoDrive (launching in the U.S. on the Panamera) which is company’s new semi-autonomous driving technology, but it will arrive as an option. One of the new features is the Rim Protection, and it will save your expensive and nice looking wheels by automatically steer your vehicle in case it senses that you could clip a curb. This is not all as we are also getting a camera system for pedestrian and cyclists detection which can apply brakes to prevent any accident. When it comes to connectivity, you can rely on four USB ports and LTE wi-fi hotspot.
New Cayenne 2019 Interior
Inside, you will notice the instrument cluster which retained its traditional analog tachometer, with a pair of 7-inch color displays at both sides that will provide additional driver information. Front-and-center on the dashboard is a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system like the one seen in the Panamera. A much simpler center console now has a black finish with touch-capacitive controls that provide haptic feedback when you touch them. Overall, the interior look is now cleaner than that on the outgoing SUV which, as you know, hosted that TV button-intensive console.
What is normal to expect is that the German carmaker will, over the course of few years, add additional engine choices (this could include a hybrid as well), Turbo, and GTS variants. Porsche CEO, Oliver Blume, at the car’s debut stated that “There are still some very powerful and very efficient models to come,” and added, “Will also benefit from our plug-in hybrid strategy.” The company tried to hint the fact that 2019 Cayenne “is designed to be the sports car in its segment” by increasing the tire sizes that range from 19 to 21 inches in diameter. One more thing is available as well, but as an option, and it is the rear-wheel steering.
2019 Porsche Cayenne Price
The price, when the 2019 Porsche Cayenne hits U.S. showrooms sometime mid next year, will be around $65,700 for the regular Cayenne and $82,900 for the S version and those are the figures before the destination fees and options you chose.
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