Porsche has launched itself into a new niche in the market with its latest model – the Cayenne Coupe.
This new model adds a swooping roofline and coupe silhouette to the existing Cayenne SUV and will go head-to-head with its main German rivals – the Mercedes GLE Coupe, Audi Q8 and BMW X6 – when it goes on sale in May.
The styling, as with its competitors, is likely to divide opinion.
But Porsche has done a neat job of incorporating a more steeply raked windscreen, curving roofline and dramatically tapered rear end on to the SUV’s bulky body.
The maker claims the styling fits the Cayenne’s sporting character, paired as it is exclusively with high-performance powertrains and a chassis tuned for dynamism.
The roofline is 10mm lower than the standard car, while redesigned rear arches and doors mean the Coupe is 18mm wider than its sibling.
The rear features a roof spoiler and an adaptive spoiler on the boot lip.
Two roof options are available – either a panoramic fixed glass roof, or a full carbon fibre option.
The Cayenne Coupe also features an altered interior layout, ditching the standard car’s three-seater rear bench in favour of two individual seats with a centre armrest.
Rear passengers sit 30mm lower than in the standard Cayenne to give decent headroom, despite the low roofline.
The engine line-up will mirror the Cayenne’s at launch.
As standard, a 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol will provide a 0-60mph sprint of less than six seconds and a top speed of 151mph.
Those after a bit more poke can opt for the Cayenne Turbo Coupe, which features a 4.0-litre V8 producing 542bhp.
It will be capable of 0-60mph in less than four seconds and has a top speed of 178mph.
Detlev von Platen, board member for sales and marketing at Porsche, said about his brand’s saloon and SUV line-up: “The Panamera, Macan and Cayenne… are the sportiest option in their respective segments – and they carry the genes of the Porsche 911.
“We want to appeal more strongly to new, younger target groups with the Cayenne Coupe.”
The new Cayenne Coupe is available to order now, and first deliveries will start at the end of May.
Prices starts at £62,129, and rise to £104,729 for the range-topping Turbo.
