Cayenne loses camo

Text: Luke Madden / Photos: Automedia

07th December 2009

The Porsche Cayenne is bucking the trend for larger and heavier cars. These spy pictures reveal the next evolution of the popular SUV will be smaller and lighter than its predecessor.

Hoping to integrate the Cayenne more seamlessly into the Porsche line-up, the German firm are looking to do away with much of the bulky off-road equipment to make the new car more driver focused.

Based on the next-generation platform used in the VW Touareg and Audi Q7, the new Cayenne will be 40mm shorter and 20mm lower than the old model. Other styling updates obvious from these shots are a higher waistline and a new set of LED daytime running lights.

Inside, the cabin will take its cues from the interior seen on the Panamera. That means a prominent media screen in the centre console, flanked by large air vents and a row of buttons on each side.

The new Cayenne may also become the first Porsche model to be available as a hybrid, with reports suggesting power will come from Audi's 3.0-litre V6 mated to a 38kW battery in the spare tyre well.

Among the more traditional power options are the 4.8-litre V8 from the Panamera and the twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 from the Panamera Turbo.

As for oil-burners, Porsche will most likely borrow Volkswagen's V6 TDI engine, which produces 236bhp and 550Nm of torque.

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