2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe unveiled

Even if you can beat them, you may as well join them.

Porsche has released official details of its first ever Cayenne Coupe, a vehicle that follows closely in the wheel tracks of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by tapering the rear profile of the German car-maker’s bulk-selling SUV.

Seen here publicly for the first time after several leaks, the Cayenne Coupe will arrive in Australia in early 2020, priced from $128,400 (plus on-road costs) for the regular Cayenne Coupe and $254,000 (plus on-road costs) for the Cayenne Turbo Coupe.

Each represents a circa-$15,000 premium on the vehicles on which they are based, however Porsche Cars Australia says the additional outlay will net buyers significantly more standard equipment.

More than that, the Cayenne Coupe is set to broaden the appeal of Porsche's popular high-rider while introducing sharper lines and a "totally unique rear section", an adaptive rear spoiler and, for occupants, a revised four-seat layout in place of the donor car's more conventional five-seat configuration.

Proportionally, the Cayenne Coupe's roof is 20mm lower than the donor model, enabling a shallower front windscreen and A-pillar. The car’s shoulders have been broadened 18mm courtesy of redesigned rear doors and fenders. And at the rear, the number plate has been integrated into the bumper to make the coupe appear lower slung.

The revisited externals haven’t been overly detrimental to interior space, according to Porsche. However in the regular Cayenne Coupe, boot capacity drops from 770 litres to 625 litres, or 1540 litres with the split fold-seats laid flat (from 1710 litres). The Cayenne Turbo Coupe's derriere offers up 600 litres and 1510 litres respectively.

The Cayenne Coupe forgoes a middle seat, however Porsche says there is still "plenty of headroom" because passengers sit 30mm lower in the cabin than the regular Cayenne.

"The significantly [steeper] roof line that falls away to the rear makes the Cayenne Coupé appear even more dynamic, and positions it as the sportiest-looking model in the segment," says Porsche's design boss, Michael Mauer.

An adaptive roof spoiler borrowed from the traditional Cayenne Turbo has been modified for the Cayenne Coupe. It combines with an adaptive rear spoiler to extends by 135mm at 90km/h and above – essentially increasing contact pressure on the rear axle.

Under the bonnet, the Cayenne Coupe range will be kicked off by a 250kW/450Nm six-cylinder turbo-petrol in the garden-variety model, and a 404kW/770Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol in the flagship Cayenne Turbo Coupe.

The former can reach 100km/h from rest in as little as 5.9 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 243km/h, while the latter manages the same feats at 3.9 seconds and tops out at 286km/h.

Porsche is set to offer more engine variants of the Cayenne Coupe in due course, including the likelihood of a 500kW/850Nm V8 plug-in hybrid set-up from the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Standard features over and above the regular Cayenne comprises speed-sensitive Power Steering Plus, 20-inch alloy wheels for the Cayenne Coupe and 22-inch alloy wheels for the Cayenne Turbo Coupe, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) on the Cayenne Coupé, and the Sport Chrono Package with mode switch.

The Cayenne Coupe is finished with a panoramic fixed glass roof as standard, but is optionally available with a carbon roof, as seen below.

The newcomer lands in Aussie showrooms at the beginning of 2020, where it will do battle with the Audi Q8, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe - not to mention sporty new offerings like the Lamborghini Urus.

Cayenne Coupe - $128,400
Cayenne Turbo Coupe - $254,000

Prices exclude on-road costs