PORSCHE HAVE ADDED AN EVEN SPORTIER VEHICLE TO THEIR THIRD GENERATION SUV RANGE WITH THE CAYENNE COUPÉ.
Porsche is an iconic brand that has gained an ever increasing international following and respect since its founding in 1931. They have constantly produced impressive offerings that are not only technologically superior to most other manufacturers, but are also beautiful to look at from every angle. Over the months and years, we at Ohlala have had the privilege of test driving an array of recent models, including several from the Cayenne collection. This collection began as far back as 2002 and has gone from strength-to-strength. This month, compliments of the fantastic team at Porsche Centre Bahrain, we were invited to inspect the Porsche Cayenne Coupé as well as to take it through its paces.
You may think that once you’ve seen one Cayenne, you’ve seen them all. This certainly is not the truth and we were immediately impressed by the dynamic new design of this third-generation model, complete with sharper lines and a unique rear section. The roofline of this athletic looking vehicle has a sharper slope to it that falls away to the rear making it the sportiest-looking model in the segment. The roof spoiler accentuates this effect and is combined with a new adaptive rear spoiler that form part of the label’s new Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA). This spoiler extends by 135 mm from speeds of 90 km/h upwards, increasing the contact pressure of the rear axle, whilst the PAA concurrently improves efficiency. The A-pillar and front windscreen are now flatter than previous Cayenne models, with the roof edge having been lowered by around twenty millimetres. The rear doors and fenders have also been redesigned, adding to this SUV’s powerful presence. An impressive 2.16 m2 fixed glass roof is fitted as standard, although a contoured carbon roof is also available upon request.
“All of the trimmings, fabrics, finishes and materials used are of premium quality and the overall design is simply stunning.”
The interior of this mid-sized luxury SUV can be described in one word; fabulous! Sitting inside the cockpit we instantly noticed the abundance of space on offer. This combined with the new eight-way sports seats complete with integrated headrests, ensure an unparalleled level of both comfort and support. All of the trimmings, fabrics, finishes and materials used are of premium quality and the overall design is simply stunning. In the back, the new Coupé features a rear bench that has the characteristics of two individual seats that are fitted as standard, although the familiar comfort rear seats can be fitted as an alternative at no extra cost. Once again there is plenty of head, shoulder and leg room, providing an exceptionally comfortable space for passengers. The 625-litre boot capacity makes this car practical for everyday use and this can be increased to 1,540 litres with the rear seats folded down.
As much as we enjoyed inspecting the exterior and interior of this marvellous machine, we were, as always, keen to get the vehicle on the road to see what the master designers at Porsche have managed to accomplish performance wise.
As soon as pressure was applied to the accelerator, a wide smile spread across our collective faces. The sound of the Cayenne’s sixcylinder, turbocharged engine was music to our ears as we began to surge forward along the tarmac at an exciting rate. With a three-litre displacement delivering 340 hp and a maximum torque of 450 Nm, this sporty SUV has more power than one will ever need on public roads. With the Sport Chrono Package fitted in series production vehicles, this midsize SUV sprints from 0 – 100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds and boasts a top speed of 243 km/h. We found the handling of the vehicle to be superb. With the PAA ensuring we stayed glued to the ground as we powered around corners and sped along the straights, we always felt in complete control of the experience. This feeling of security was hugely enhanced by an extremely efficient braking system and a multitude of standard safety features.
All too soon we were making our way back to Porsche Centre Bahrain, jabbering away at how impressed we were with every aspect of this new Cayenne Coupé. We strongly recommend anyone looking to buy a superior quality SUV to take one of these beauties out for a test drive and to experience the magic for themselves.
