The Porsche Cayenne is a series of automobiles manufactured by the German company Porsche since 2002. It is a luxury crossover SUV, and has been described as both a full-sized and a mid-sized vehicle. The first generation was known within Porsche as the Type 9PA (955/957) or E1. It was the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche since 1995, when the Porsche 928 was discontinued. It is also Porsche's first off-road variant vehicle since its Super and Junior tractors of the 1950s, as well as the first production Porsche with four doors. Since 2014, the Cayenne has been sold alongside a smaller Porsche SUV, the Macan. The second-generation Cayenne (Type 92A or E2) was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. The Cayenne shares its platform, body frame, doors, and electronics with the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. It received a facelift in 2014 with minor external changes, and introduced a new plug-in E-Hybrid version with its public launch at the Paris Motor Show. Since 2008, all engines have featured direct injection technology. The third generation (Type 9YA or E3) was unveiled in 2017 in the German city of Stuttgart.

First generation (E1 9PA; 2002)

The original Porsche Cayenne entered into the global market to a mixed reception, but it proved itself to have excellent performance for an SUV and had comparably good handling as well as powerful engines. The lineup initially consisted of the V8-powered Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. Later in the model cycle, VR6 and diesel-powered versions joined the lineup. In the eight model years of the E1 generation, a total of 276,652 units were produced. The name Cayenne was coined by Manfred Gotta. The base model Cayenne is powered by a 3.2-L VR6 engine producing 250 PS. The intake manifold is unique to Porsche, but otherwise the engine is largely the same as the VW engine. Acceleration from 0–100 km/h is 9.1 seconds with the manual transmission and 9.7 seconds with the Tiptronic S.

Cayenne S

The S in the 955 pre-facelift 9PA is powered by a 4.5L V8 engine with a wet-sump lubrication system and variable valve timing. It produces 335 hp and 310 lbft of torque. Acceleration from 0–60 mph takes 6.9 seconds and the top speed is 150 mph. Introduced only for 2006 (as a pre-GTS concept), the Cayenne S Titanium Edition was a one-year exclusive, limited production SUV featuring a lightweight steel body, featuring an aluminium hood (lighter than the one equipped on the Cayenne S), titanium-painted accented body parts, side lower rocker body panels, Sport-Quad Tip Exhaust chrome tailpipes, 19" titanium painted alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, two-tone interior upholstery, Porsche PCM 2.0 w/ trip computer navigation, MP3 audio and Bose cabin surround sound. Under the hood, improvements included sport-tuned suspension, an aerodynamic body package, low-range transfer case, locking differential and a 6-speed automatic Tiptronic S transmission. The Cayenne S Titanium Edition is powered by the same 4.5L V8 engine that powered the Cayenne S - still producing 335 hp and 310 lb.ft of torque. Acceleration is even quicker than the regular Cayenne S from 0–60 mph at 6.2 seconds and the top speed is 150 mph. In the updated 9PA chassis 957 Cayenne S introduced between 2008 and 2010, it featured a direct fuel injection (DFI) 4.8L V8 engine which produces 390 PS and 500 Nm of torque. It had a 0–100 km/h time of 6.6 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h. The updated V8 engine featured VarioCam Plus which combine variable valve timing with two-stage valve lift on the inlet side.

Cayenne GTS

The E1 Gran-Turismo Sport (GTS) was only offered in the updated 9PA chassis between the year 2008 and 2010. It was the first Porsche of the modern era to feature the GTS abbreviation nameplate in its model designation. Its sporty chassis had been specially developed only for this model variant and it was powered with a performance tuned 411 PS 4.8 L V8. It also featured a lowered sport suspension, sports exhaust system and 21 in high performance wheels as standard. It was much lighter than a normal Cayenne and had an aerodynamic wide body kit standard from factory. The Porsche Cayenne GTS had a 0–100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 253 km/h. A six-speed manual transmission was also offered in the GTS.

Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S

The first-generation 9PA Cayenne Turbo had 450 PS, and can accelerate from 0–100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. A Turbo S version was built in 2006 to compete with the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG. The Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S include a low-range case, a locking differential, and height-adjustable, off-road suspension. The Turbo S is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.5 L V8 that produces 521 PS and 720 Nm of torque; Acceleration from 0–60 mph takes 5.0 seconds and the top speed is 167 mph; It features a six-speed automatic Tiptronic S transmission.In 2008 an updated 9PA Turbo model, featuring a larger direct fuel injection 4.8-L V8 engine, was revealed at the Beijing Auto Show. It produces 500 PS more power, and can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Also revealed with the new Turbo, was a new 550 hp Turbo S model. Acceleration from 0–60 mph for that car takes 4.7 seconds and it can be had with optional ceramic composite brakes.

Cayenne Diesel

The original Cayenne Diesel was only available in the facelift 9PA chassis, powered by a 3.0-L V6 VW TDI engine, since February 2009. The engine is rated at 240 PS and 550 Nm of torque. The car was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The diesel can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 8.2 seconds.

Cayenne S Transsyberia

The Cayenne S Transsyberia was originally a racing vehicle designed for the Transsyberia rally, in which only 285 were built. The street version was later built to commemorate Porsche's victory in the Transsyberia rally. It is only available in the 9PA chassis with the 405 hp direct-inject 4.8-L V8 from the Cayenne GTS. Sales began in January 2009, with a targeted production run of 600 road vehicles worldwide (285 for North America), but far fewer were actually built (102 for USA, 17 for Canada including 3 which were 6 speed manual).

Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 (2010)

In May 2009, a limited edition version based on the Cayenne GTS was introduced, designed by Porsche Design Studio and included a Porsche Design chronograph Type P'6612. Production was limited to 1000 units worldwide.

Cayenne Concepts

In April 2022, Porsche unveiled a concept open-top Cayenne for the first time to the public as a part of the 20th anniversary of the Porsche Cayenne. The Cayenne was proving successful, so in December 2002 Porsche designers wanted to assess the viability of more Cayenne body styles. They came up 3 alternate body shapes: a coupe style SUV, a convertible SUV and a longer wheelbase 3 row SUV. Porsche designers decided to continue with the idea of a convertible SUV, creating a two-door, non-drivable (due to a lack of strengthening added to the chassis to prevent the car from buckling without a fixed roof) convertible Cayenne that had two alternate designs on the rear. Additionally, its doors were 20 cm longer than the standard Cayenne and it had a shorter A-Pillar than the standard model. Due to the concerns surrounding head room, boot space and rear design the idea was scrapped. However, the coupe style SUV lead to the modern Cayenne Coupe. Moreover, the idea of a longer wheelbase 3 row SUV likely led to the large Porsche SUV which is currently in the prototype stages.

Engines

Second generation (E2 92A; 2010)

The second-generation Porsche Cayenne 92A went on sale in April–May 2010 as a 2011 model, with an official debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. In preparation for the unveiling, the Cayenne production facility in Leipzig, Germany, closed in December 2009 to commence factory retooling for the new model, a process that took two to three months. The 92A Porsche Cayenne was slightly larger than its predecessors, but featured a more slanted rear window, less upright windshield, a more sloping roofline, door-mounted mirrors, smaller windows at the rear of the vehicle, headlights inspired by the Carrera GT, taillights that extend onto the car's tailgate, LED daytime running lights and a vastly redesigned interior much like the Panamera. The 2011 Cayenne is almost 250 kg lighter than the previous models due to removing the low-range transfer case making it slightly more fuel efficient than the previous lineup. More use of aluminium and magnesium also helped shave weight. Despite its lower stance, the new vehicle's off-road capabilities have been retained without compromising the street performance-oriented layout and design. In addition to a diesel offering, a hybrid version is available. Model year 2013–2016 diesel Porsche Cayennes are included in the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Standard features of the 92A Porsche Cayenne included automatic air conditioning with dual-zone climate controls, interior air filter, tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats, outside-temperature indicator, and universal garage door opener in the base model. The Cayenne S adds a power sunroof and memory for the driver's seat. The Cayenne GTS added an optional rearview camera, keyless access and start, and memory system. Finally, the most upscale Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S added a navigation system with voice recognition, optional four-zone climate controls, heated rear seats, premium sound system with six-disc CD changer. The E2 Cayenne was powered by a 3.6-L VR6 engine producing 300 PS, the Cayenne S features the same 4.8-L V8 in the Panamera S models producing 400 PS and the Cayenne Turbo comes with Panamera Turbo's 4.8 L twin turbo V8 producing 500 PS. The Cayenne S Hybrid uses an Audi-sourced 3.0-L V6 engine producing 333 PS, paired with a nickel metal hydride battery capable of 47 PS, for a total of 380 PS. A six-speed manual gearbox serves as the standard transmission system on the base Cayenne to 2014, with all other models featuring an eight-speed automatic (Tiptronic S) as standard equipment. The low-range transfer case found in the previous generation has been removed. All vehicles will feature about 10% less weight than their predecessors, 70 kg worth of standard equipment in excess of that found on the current model and a more heavily contoured rear bench. Available Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active anti-roll bars, Adaptive air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). In September 2012 Porsche announced the Cayenne S Diesel. This model is fitted with the Audi 4.2 V8 TDI engine. In October 2012, Porsche confirmed the addition of a new Cayenne Turbo S. In July 2014, Porsche launched a facelifted Cayenne range, with minor exterior alterations and new power-train options, including a plug-in E-Hybrid and downsizing of the S model's 4.8-L V8 to a turbocharged 3.6-L V6.

Hybrid

At the IAA 2005, Porsche announced it would produce a hybrid version of the Cayenne before 2010 (Porsche Cayenne Hybrid). Two years later, at the IAA 2007, Porsche presented a functioning Cayenne Hybrid and demonstration model of the drivetrain. Notable modifications to this car include an electric vacuum pump and hydraulic steering pump, allowing the car to function even when the engine is deactivated. A 288-volt nickel metal hydride battery is placed under the boot floor, occupying the space normally used for a spare tire. The production version, called the 'S' Hybrid, was launched in 2010, with a 3.0-L petrol V6 linked with an electric motor to achieve emissions of 193 g/km. The S Hybrid was launched in the U.S. market in November 2010.

Plug-in hybrid

In July 2014, Porsche announced the launch of the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid with an all-electric range between 18 and 36 km under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard. The plug-in model displaced the Cayenne S Hybrid from the line up, and it is part of the revised range. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid is the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment, allowing Porsche to become the first automaker with three production plug-in hybrid models. Deliveries in Germany were scheduled to begin in October 2014. Sales in the U.S. began in November 2014. The following are the official EPA ratings of the Cayenne S E-Hybrid compared with the others models of the 2015 line up available in the U.S.:

Engines

Guinness World Record

On 1 May 2017, a 2017 Porsche Cayenne S Diesel set the Guinness World Record for heaviest aircraft pulled by a production car. The Cayenne towed a 265-ton Air France Airbus A380 to a distance of 42 meters, breaking the previous 2013 record of a Nissan Patrol towing a 170-ton Ilyushin Il-76 to a distance of 50 meters. After the attempt Porsche repeated the test using a petrol-powered Cayenne Turbo S with 800 Nm of torque, 50 Nm less than the S Diesel, in an effort to prove the Cayenne's remarkable ability.

Third generation (E3 9YA/9YB; 2017)

The third-generation Porsche Cayenne was revealed on August 29, 2017, set to be put on sale in 2019. It is built on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform shared with several other luxury crossover SUVs produced by Volkswagen Group, including the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, Audi Q8, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus. For this generation, the Cayenne no longer shares the door panel design with the Volkswagen Touareg. According to Stephan Lenschow, the Cayenne body product manager, this allows Porsche to give the Cayenne a more 'coke bottle' design. The Cayenne also received a redesigned front end with larger air intakes, more prominent creases along the bonnet, and a lower roofline to align its styling with the Porsche 911. The wheelbase remains unchanged from the previous generation, but Porsche increased the Cayenne's overall length slightly by about 63 mm. The height is slightly lowered by 9 mm and the coefficient of drag is rated at 0.35. Despite a small increase in length, the third-generation Cayenne is lighter by around 65 kg, depending on the configuration, due to the use of a lighter chassis. Aluminium is used extensively throughout the vehicle, including in the doors, roof, hood, rear hatch, as well as its body in white. The ratio of aluminium to high-strength steel is roughly 50-50, according to Lenschow. A lighter lithium-ion polymer starter battery that saves 10 kg also contributes to its weight distribution, which in base configuration is nearly balanced with approximately 55 percent front and 45 percent rear. All engine options of the third-generation Cayenne are turbocharged, while diesel engines are no longer offered. All Cayenne models in this generation are equipped with an updated eight-speed "Tiptronic S" transmission that is claimed to provide quicker shifts than before. Porsche offers optional Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB), which consist of a cast-iron disc with 70 micrometers of tungsten-carbide coating. According to Karl Heess, Porsche director for product line SUV, PSCB reduce brake dust by as much as 50 percent over conventional iron brake discs), and extend the life of the disc by up to 35 percent. It is more expensive than iron discs while still being 50 percent less expensive than the ceramic brake option. Other innovations in this generation include staggered (different width) front and rear tires, and optional rear-axle steering to reduce the turning radius. In the first quarter of 2022, Porsche sales declined by 5%, but the Cayenne remained the manufacturer's best-selling car.

Cayenne Coupé

A model with a more rakish roofline dubbed the Cayenne Coupé became available in 2019. It was revealed during the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2019. At launch, there were two sub-models, the Cayenne Coupé and Cayenne Turbo Coupé. The Cayenne Coupé is extensively reworked from the standard model, featuring a shallower front windshield and narrower A-pillar. The roof is lowered by 20 mm, while new rear door panels and updated fenders extended the vehicle width by 18 mm. The drag coefficient is rated at 0.34, which is 0.1 lower than the regular model. Every Cayenne Coupé is equipped with standard 2.16 sqm fixed-glass panoramic roof, while an optional contoured carbon roof is also available as an option.

Variants

At its introduction in August 2017, Porsche released two versions of the third-generation Cayenne, which are base and Cayenne S. The Cayenne Turbo was released a month later. The Cayenne S used the EA839 2.9 liter twin turbo V6 engine, with larger brake rotors and calipers compared with the base model.

Cayenne Turbo

In September 2017, Porsche added the Cayenne Turbo to the line-up. Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Cayenne Turbo is powered with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 rated at 549 PS and 770 Nm of torque. Porsche claimed a 0-100 km/h acceleration figure of 4.1 seconds, or 3.9 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, and a top speed of 285 km/h The Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB) is a standard equipment.

Cayenne E-Hybrid

In May 2018, Porsche introduced the Cayenne E-Hybrid. Sharing the same plug-in hybrid system with the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, the variant uses a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic gearbox rated at 462 PS and 700 Nm of torque. Porsche claims a 0-100 km/h time of 5.0 seconds and top speed of 252 km/h. The all-electric range is rated by Porsche at 43 km. It takes 7.8 hours to fully charge the 14.1 kWh battery with a 230-volt connection, or 2.3 hours if an optional 7.2 kW on-board charger is fitted.

Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid

In August 2019, the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid was released for both regular and Coupé body styles. A plug-in hybrid model, it uses a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine rated at 550 PS and a 136 PS electric motor for a combined total of 680 PS and 900 Nm of torque. A 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery is used, and was said to offer 30 percent more capacity than the battery used in previous generation plug-in hybrid Cayenne models. Charging time is quoted at 2.4 hours when connected to a 240-volt, 50-amp source. Porsche claimed a 0-100 km/h acceleration figure of 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 295 km/h. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+), and Sport Chrono Package are standard equipment for the model.

Cayenne GTS

In June 2020, Porsche introduced the Cayenne GTS and Cayenne GTS Coupé for the 2021 model year, after a two-year hiatus. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 shared with the Panamera GTS, which is rated at 460 PS and 620 Nm of torque. The new models are capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds or 4.5 seconds using Performance Start, which is included in the optional Sport Chrono Package (standard on Coupé). Sport Design package, 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, and Sport Exhaust are included as standard equipment.

Cayenne Turbo GT

In June 2021, Porsche introduced the Cayenne Turbo GT version. Based on the Cayenne Coupé, it uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which Porsche claims to produce 640 PS and claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time in 3.3 seconds. It is equipped with 22-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Ride height is lowered by 18 mm, while overall vehicle height is 30 mm lower.

2023 facelift

In April 2023, the Cayenne was given a mid-cycle refresh for the 2024 model year. Notable changes include a new dashboard layout, similar to that of the Taycan, a fully digital 12.6-inch gauge cluster, and minor exterior restyling modifications for the hood, headlights, bumpers, fenders, and trunk. Matrix LED headlamps are now equipped as standard equipment across the range, while HD Matrix LED units are optional. The HD Matrix LED features two high-definition modules and more than 32 000 pixels per headlamp, and the pixel accuracy of the headlamp units enables the selective blocking out of parts of the high beam. The powertrains were also upgraded, with the base 3.0-litre V6 engine power output increasing by 10 kW (13 hp) and 50 N⋅m of torque to produce 260 kW and 500 N⋅m. The Cayenne S gained a V8 engine which it lost since the release of the third-generation Cayenne. It is a 4.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 350 kW (469 hp) and 600 N⋅m of torque, representing an increase of output of 25 kW (34 hp) and 50 N⋅m over the previous Cayenne S that is powered by a 2.9 dm3 twin-turbocharged petrol V6. The electric motor from the E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid variant was increased from 100 kW to 130 kW (174 hp), and the battery increased to 93 MJ (25.9 kWh), up from 64.5 MJ (17.9 kWh) previously, offering a pure electric driving range of up to 90 km on the WLTP test cycle. Revisions to the chassis for this refreshed model included revised dampers with two-valve technology for separate compression and rebound sections, which Porsche claimed will help offer a wider range of performance between ride comfort and handling.

Powertrain

SC = With Sport Chrono Package

Safety

Records

In June 2021, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT lapped 7:38:925 at Nürburgring Nordschleife. The car was driven by test driver Lars Kern.

Mechanical issues

The Porsche Cayenne is known for some mechanical issues. This includes the failure of the center drive shaft carrier bearing. Cayenne engines using Lokasil or Alusil engine blocks, with exception of the VW-based VR6 six-cylinder engine which has a cast iron block, can suffer from cylinder bore scoring as well. Early V8 Cayenne models came equipped with plastic coolant pipes that would crack and fail, possibly causing the engine to overheat. Subsequent Cayenne S and Turbo engines were fitted with upgraded aluminum coolant pipes to rectify this issue. 958 Cayenne models except Hybrid and V6 Diesel suffer with transfer case problems, and Porsche issued a 10-year warranty on 958.1 (2011–2014) and a 7-year warranty on 958.2 (2015–2018), both with unlimited mileage.

In popular culture

In 2021, a Chinese manufacturer introduced the Changan Uni-K, which bears a striking resemblance to the Porsche Cayenne, especially from the rear and side profiles. The car was sold for approximately 21,000 euros.