2024 Porsche Cayenne: Overhauled SUV flagship revealed

Porsche’s biggest SUV (for now) has been overhauled for 2024.

Although it’s technically a mid-life update on the exisiting model which debuted in 2019, Porsche describes this as “one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche”.

Inspired by the Taycan, the new-look Cayenne features revised engines, suspension and handling improvements, as well as an updated dashboard that features a digital instrument cluster and optional front passenger display.

The new Cayenne will arrive in Australia during the third quarter of 2023, with a streamlined range which sees the outgoing Cayenne GTS and Turbo models notably absent.

Engines

The range starts with the Cayenne which has a rejigged 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with 260kW of power and 500Nm of torque, which is 10kW and 50Nm more than before.

The previous V6 engine from the Cayenne S has been replaced by a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 petrol engine – likely from the outgoing GTS – with 349kW of power and 600Nm of torque which is 25kW and 50Nm more than its previous V6. The Cayenne S is capable of completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid features a turbocharged V6 plug-in hybrid system that gets a new 130kW electric motor, for a system power output of 346kW. The battery capacity has also increased from 17.9kWh to 25.9kWh. There’s now an uprated 11kW on-board charger available to shorten charging times – but the specifics haven’t been detailed yet.

The range-topping Cayenne Turbo GT has a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 that produces 485kW of power which is an increase of 14kW. The Turbo GT can do 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds.

Handling

Porsche has made changes to the suspension with the addition of Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) now standard on the Cayenne and Cayenne E-Hybrid.

Porsche has improved the Cayenne’s available adaptive air suspension with two chamber, two valve technology as well as new shock absorbers.

Handling has also been improved with pitch and roll support adjustments.

Styling

The new Cayenne includes Matrix LED headlights as standard, with new HD Matrix LED headlights available an an option featuring 32,000 pixels per headlight which can be controlled 1000 different ways.

Porsche has made design changes to its three-dimensional tail lights on the Cayenne which now include a full-width rear light bar that runs along the tailgate.

The carmaker has added three new colour options, a lightweight sport pack that saves 33kg on the Cayenne Coupe, as well as an updated range of 20-, 21- and 22-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the centre console now makes room for storage compartments, and larger air-conditioning controls which sit on a black panel.

Front ventilated seats are now standard on the Cayenne S. Soft-close doors are now standard on the Cayenne Turbo GT.

Technology

A 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster is now standard with a head-up display. A 12.3-inch central infotainment system also headlines the revised T-shaped interior.

Customers can now option a 10.9-inch front passenger display. It can show performance data and seperate infotainment controls. The display has a film over the top to prevent driver distraction while the vehicle is in motion.

Porsche has added driving controls on and near the steering wheel for optimised access.

The transmission shifter is now located on the dashboard behind the steering wheel to free up space in the centre console.

Porsche as added a new air purifying system that is is connected to the GPS and will automatically activate air-ricurrculation when in a tunnel as well as filter very fine particles of dust.