With the optional panoramic roof, this is a first glass way to travel

The Cayenne’s facelift isn’t due for a while, so for the time being the latest thing is the new optional Panorama roof. For £2180 you get 1.4sq m of electrically-operated glass that’s roughly four times larger than the conventional sunroof.

Sure, the roof might rob interior headroom, and the installation hardly does the Cayenne’s centre of gravity any favours. However, it’s an extremely clever and well-engineered piece of kit that not only looks good but works a treat.

It’s operated by two controls – a button and a rotary dial set between the sun visors. The blind retracts automatically and the glass can be set in up to 15 configurations. You can even tilt or open the first two panes of glass individually to favour front- or rear-seat occupants. The third pane remains fixed.

The new roof isn’t the only way to get a better view in a Cayenne: there’s also an optional £1102 reversing camera, which pops up below the rear wiper and displays an image on the sat-nav screen.

For true entertainment value, however, it’s hard to get past the Cayenne’s wonderfully responsive engine. We drove the S, whose 90-degree four-valve-per-cylinder 4.5-litre V8 delivers 335bhp and 310lb ft. 

Porsche isn’t saying how much the new roof system adds to the kerbweight, but there’s no discernible dent in performance. It’ll hit 60mph in a shade over 7.0sec and haul to150mph without feeling stretched.

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