Porsche Cayenne S sales to reignite with V8

The expansion of the V8 engine within the soon-to-arrive 2023 Porsche Cayenne range looks set to reinvigorate sales, with buyers already keen to jump aboard.

In an era of downsizing and fewer cylinders, Porsche has made the decision to leap the other way with the Cayenne S ahead of a 2026 switch to all-electric for the next generation of the German sports car marque’s large SUV.

While it was originally powered by a V8, since 2014 the Cayenne S has used a V6 – originally a 3.6-litre and more recently a more potent 2.9-litre V6 turbo that also formed the basis for an engine used in some go-fast Audi models.

But Porsche recently introduced the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that makes 349kW and 600Nm – a healthy 25kW/50Nm step up over the 324kW/550Nm of the V6 it replaces.

“Australia is definitely a V8 market,” said Porsche Australia CEO and managing director, Daniel Schmollinger.

Fuel use for the Cayenne V8 has understandably headed in the wrong direction, stepping up from a claimed 9.4 litres per 100km to 12.3L/100km.

But Schmollinger is not fazed.

“Cayenne S V8 is important … and will deliver,” he said, adding “it will be very successful”.

Given the love of all things V8 – Mercedes-Benz is facing an uphill battle convincing buyers of its new AMG models that a four-cylinder is an adequate replacement for the brawny V8s the brand is known for – it appears Porsche is onto a winner.

“It is absolutely what you expect from a V8,” said Schmollinger.

“Australia … [is] an enthusiast market … people are buying super high-end cars … they are not garage queens, but they are driven.

“We have a very high share of top-end models.

“This is also then driven by V8 engines and performance overall.”

Just a few weeks ago, Porsche also revealed its incoming Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid that combines the V8 with an electric motor/battery to deliver a stonking 544kW/950Nm.

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