Porsche's facelifted Porsche Cayenne SUV is nearing the end of its development journey, as this undisguised mule reveals work on the facelifted model is almost completed ahead of its expected debut at the Paris motor show in October.
Among the biggest visual changes to come with the updated model are significantly redesigned front and rear bumpers, with the rear of the car in particular getting a slimmed-down design with new tail-light clusters and a lower bumper which now encloses the dual exhausts and also features a psuedo diffuser.
The front end of this test vehicle also shows extensive re-engineering. The re-profiled bonnet now stretches between both wing tops, with its leading edge running the full width of space between the new headlight designs.
The new front bumper is also a little deeper than that of the current model, with the main grille and side intakes subtly reshaped. Overall, the Cayenne’s chin is lower, eliminating the ‘amphibious vehicle’ look of the current car.
Under the bonnet, a new-generation hybrid system based on the type used in the Panamera is expected, as well as a new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine added to the engine line-up.
As with most facelift programmes, a small price increase over current models is likely. That means an entry-level Cayenne diesel should cost more than the £47,390 of today's car.
The Cayenne is now approaching its fourth birthday and thus is nearing replacement. The next-generation Cayenne will be based on Volkswagen Group's MSB platform. This is currently under development by Porsche but will also be used for the forthcoming Bentley SUV, which will launch in 2016 as part of Bentley's plans to increase its sales by 50 per cent before 2018.
Bentley hopes its first SUV model will eventually account for 3000 units per year, with around 2000 pre-orders already received. The all-new Mk3 Cayenne is likely to follow the Bentley SUV's launch, going on sale in late 2016.
Additional reporting by Darren Moss, 3 June 2014
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Appears to have an inane
I discovered this when I took the latest Cayman for a test drive and wrung its neck on twisty B roads. The salesman said that he enjoyed the ride and I said that surely all prospective customers drove it like that on a test and he said "you're the first". That's when I realised that the name Porsche was all that they wanted to buy.
OMG!
A new porsche that looks like the old Porsche....
My guess is that any future Porsche will all look the same, too.
To be fair, they have deviated from the Porsche "look" in the past (914, 924, 944, 968 and 928) but it's the cars that look a bit like a 911 people want.
But so what? They build great cars and sell loads of them.
Long may that continue.