Wheels Australia – August 2019

the exhaust note still misses some
deep and guttural boisterousness.
Like in the Cayenne, the twin-turbo
4.0-litre V8 produces 404kW from
5750-6000rpm and 770Nm between
1960-4500rpm. The needle arrives at
the 100km/h marker in just 3.9sec.
Top speed for the Turbo and S is
286km/h, aided by the Coupe’s unique
trio of spoilers. There is the obvious
roof-mounted wing that also acts as a
styling piece, as well as a lower boot
lip, which itself sits on a trick active
spoiler that extends 135mm from the
boot at speeds over 90km/h.
The Coupe is incredibly athletic for
an SUV of over two tonnes. Its new
48-volt electrical architecture allows
for lightning-quick computations and
response from its components, like the
three-chamber air suspension, traction
control and a more powerful anti-roll
system. The result is a flat ride with
stonking grip and corner speed.

If you were sitting in the passenger

seat, eyelids shut, you could easily

think you were in something much

smaller, but just as capable.

The weakness of the SUV is its

weight and loss of communication

through the front end when really

digging into corners. Porsche’s PSM

Sport traction control system, along

with the fact it’s AWD, does plenty to

save the front-end from washing out,

but feedback and feel through the

tiller can become a touch numb as the

tyres are put under stress.

The 10-piston front, four-piston rear

fixed-caliper brakes further defy the

perception of SUV abilities, gripping

with incredible strength on 415mm

and 365mm internally vented discs.

The three-way dampers in their

most comfortable setting segue to

a softly sprung ride that soaks up

bumps and lumps along the road, even

on the Turbo’s huge 22-inch alloys.

Inside you’ll find the same general

layout as the Cayenne wagon; an

expansive dash with a huge 12.3-

inch infotainment system and digital

driver instrumentation that are bright,

crisp, and easy to use. The fabric and

partial-leather seats are classy, and

the standard two-seat rear set-up looks

far sportier than the three pews that

can be optioned for no cost. The boot

is 145-litres smaller in the Coupe, but

still a relatively large 625L overall.

The only real contrast between the

Coupe and normal Cayenne inside is

space in the back. Headroom shrinks

as the roof rakes down over the rear

seats, but the optional carbonfibre

roof opens up the cavity overhead

• the lighter ceiling actually does
  more for rear space than the standard
  panoramic roof
  And that’s the crux of the Cayenne
  Coupe, a performance-focused SUV
  that has nipped away excess for extra
  performance without a noticeable
  sacrificetocomfort.Andvisually,it’s
  a betterPorscheSUV,too.
  ALEXRAE

Supreme SUV ability; powerful V8;

classy, tech-laden interior

Expensive;V8couldsoundmeaner;

panoramicroofkillsheadroom

PLUS MINUS

@wheelsaustralia 47