Major facelift expected for the Porsche Cayenne

The iconic Porsche Cayenne is soon ready for its spring cleaning. More powerful hybrid engines, revamped chassis, new equipment… The king of SUVs is not dead!

When Porsche introduced its first Cayenne in 2002, the reviews were just as praising as they were critical. SUV enthusiasts finally rubbed their hands with the arrival of a sporty-spirited model, while purists believed that a sports car brand had no place with heavy, sluggish models.

However, history has proven the Stuttgart company right, which sold many units, especially after the integration of the famous V6 Diesel, derived from the renowned and scandalous V6 TDI associated with Dieselgate.

Today, we are on the third generation of the Porsche Cayenne. Less sold in our regions for obvious eco-tax reasons, it still offers two plug-in hybrid versions, which are specifically exempt from this notorious tax. The E-Hybrid version already develops 462 hp and emits 75 g/km of CO₂? In theory, at least, as we discussed with a study on plug-in hybrids. Its combined electric consumption stands at 25.6 kWh/100 km. The second, more powerful variant is called Turbo S E-Hybrid. It delivers 680 hp and emits 86 g/km of CO₂. Its electric consumption here is 25.3 kWh/100 km in combined cycle.

For its facelifted Porsche Cayenne (2023), the German manufacturer should upgrade the hybrid powertrains, which would gain in power. The Turbo S E-Hybrid version would thus go from 680 to 700 hp, similar to the Porsche Panamera.

The engineers at the Weissach development center also reworked the SUV’s chassis, focusing on both suspension comfort for passengers and improved efficiency in sporty driving, as well as even more refined off-road capabilities.

Extensive development testing

Rare for a facelifted model, the engineers took their Cayenne on off-road tracks in Spain, dunes in Morocco, ice tracks in Finland, and even on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. A total of 4 million kilometers of testing. Quite a feat, but let’s not forget that the number of variants of the Porsche Cayenne is as long as your arm!

On the technological front, the redesigned Porsche Cayenne will feature new HD-Matrix LED headlights, while the cabin will benefit from new digital screens, including a “new display concept”.

Michael Schätzle, Porsche product manager, explains that it is “one of the most significant product upgrades in Porsche’s history“. Stay tuned in March 2023 to discover all the details of this facelifted Porsche Cayenne (2023).

Read also: Up to 600 hp for the future Porsche Macan electric