Porsche dropped the 2.9-liter V6 from the Cayenne S and gave it a twin-turbo V8.
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne gets a big update, which should carry it to its internal combustion finish line sometime toward the end of the decade. With the new update comes a heavily refreshed interior, a comprehensive exterior update, and even the return of the V8.
The Cayenne S drops the old twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 for that new twin-turbo V8. The new V8 makes 468 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, 34 horsepower and 37 pound-feet more than the recently departed V6. The V8 helps both the standard Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe get from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, en route to a top speed of 169 mph.
The V6 returns, but only in base and plug-in hybrid configurations. The base Cayenne gets a slight power bump to 348 hp and 368 lb-ft. And thanks to that added power, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, which uses an electrically assisted version of the same V6, now makes 463 hp.
Rounding out the new Cayenne’s powertrain updates is the Cayenne Turbo GT, the top-spec performance model. According to Porsche, its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 gets a 19 hp bump, giving it 650 hp and helping it get from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.
The standard Porsche Cayenne, Cayenne S, and Cayenne E-Hybrid all ride on updated coil spring suspension with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM). The new standard suspension gets two-valve shocks with separate compression and rebound stages. However, air suspension is optional on all non-Turbo GT models and gets two-chamber, two-valve technology. The Cayenne Turbo GT gets air suspension as standard.
Visually, the Cayenne gets refreshed matrix LED headlights, new taillights, and an updated front fascia. Porsche claims there are changes to almost every body panel, but the total sum of the updates is subtle compared to the outgoing model. There are three new colors, though: Algarve Blue Metallic, Montego Blue Metallic, and Arctic Gray.
Conversely, the interior of the new Cayenne is dramatically different than before. Not only does it feature a massive new infotainment screen, but there’s now an optional screen for the passenger, similar to the Porsche Taycan. Also similar to the Taycan is the Cayenne’s new gauge screen, which is now entirely digital and more customizable than before. Current Cayenne customers will notice the center console is drastically different, too. Gone is the old automatic shift lever, swapped for a dash-mounted toggle switch to the right of the steering wheel. Losing the shift lever means the center console is freed up to house a few rows of touch-sensitive buttons on a glossy plastic surface, which looks like fingerprint hell.
There’s new cabin tech, too, such as Active Speed Limit Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition, which helps the new Cayenne maintain its current speed limit while using Adaptive Cruise Control. The latter also has two new technologies, Evasion Assist and Turn Assist. The former helps make emergency avoidance maneuvers between 31 and 93 mph, while the latter monitors upcoming traffic while making a left turns at speeds up to 6 mph.
The standard Porsche Cayenne starts at $80,850 or $85,950 for the coupe. The Cayenne E-Hybrid will cost you $93,350 and the plug-in hybrid coupe will cost $97,350. The Cayenne S starts at $97,350 and the coupe rings the bell at $103,750 to start. But the Cayenne Turbo GT will set you back a whopping $197,950. The 2024 Cayenne is available to order now, but deliveries don’t start until this summer.
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