Porsche Cayenne S Coupe pricing revealed

Porsche Cars Australia has confirmed a third variant of the forthcoming Cayenne Coupe range will grace showrooms from early 2020.

The 2020 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe will sit between the already-confirmed Cayenne Coupe and Cayenne Turbo Coupe in terms of price and performance.

The new middling variant starts at $166,600 (plus on-road costs), representing a circa $15,000 over the regular Cayenne S on which it is based, and uses a familiar 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol.

Sending drive to all four-wheels via an eight-speed transmission, the six-pot develops 324kW and 550Nm; good enough for a claimed 0-100km/h time as low as 4.9 seconds and top speed of 263km/h.

That compares 250kW/450Nm for the entry Cayenne Coupe and 404kW/770Nm for the flagship Cayenne Turbo Coupe.

All Australia versions of the Cayenne S Coupe will be fitted with Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package and speed-sensitive Power Steering Plus as standard, as well as a larger fuel tank, metallic paint, 21-inch alloy wheels, Surround View, BOSE Surround Sound system, Lane Change Assist and Adaptive air suspension in combination with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM).

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.

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.

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.