The completely redesigned 2018 Porsche Cayenne is ready. We know that because we managed to catch a production-ready model without camouflage. Okay, there is some almost invisible camo over headlights and taillights, but that hasn’t stopped us from seeing all the changes of the SUV.
More precisely, you are looking into the 2018 Porsche Cayenne Plug-In Hybrid. We know due to a fuel cap on the driver’s side. Like we said earlier, the amazing hybrid SUV will use the same powertrain as the Panamera. That’s going to be a Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid which drivetrain should be able to develop a 680 ponies and 626 lb-ft of torque. According to some reports, the carmaker plans to offer one more, less potent hybrid option, but don’t have the details at the moment.
As for the regular gasoline model, the entry-level third-generation Cayenne will use a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 330 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. The mid-level model, if the Cayenne S can be called like that, will feature a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 delivering 440 hp and 405 lb-ft of twist, while the topper, the Cayenne Turbo should host a V8 twin-turbo with the ability to pump out 550 hp and 567 lb-ft.
We can’t really say that the exterior design of the new generation Cayenne doesn’t resemble the current model. On the contrary, even though it sports a number of new styling cues, the completely redesigned SUV features evolutionary bodywork. However, by comparing the prototype with today’s Cayenne, we have realized that the gorgeous high-riding vehicle is getting a more streamlined appearance, as well as sportier rooflines. The profile appears to be less bulky from now on, while the taillights seem to be borrowed from the Panamera. As you can see, the new grille is more massive from the outgoing.
Even though it’s not too different from its predecessor from the outside, the 2018 Porsche Cayenne is essentially different beneath the skin. That’s because the SUV rides on a totally new platform. From now on, the Cayenne will ride on the MLB Evo architecture shared with the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga. The new platform is significantly better of the outgoing for many reasons, but it the most important the fact that the MLB Evo cuts some important weight from the SUV, which will boost both performance and efficiency.
So what do you think about the third-generation Porsche Cayenne?