The end of 2019 will see the release of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. With its updated sloping roofline and panoramic roof, there’s no denying that this is a gorgeous car. But can we really call it a coupe?
What is a Coupe?
The word coupe comes from the French past participle coupé, which means ‘chopped off’. This is fitting in that a coupe is a closed body (i.e. fixed metal roof) vehicle with only two doors that is much shorter than a sedan. Generally, a coupe has either two seats or four seats in a 2+2 layout, meaning there are two rear seats which are often smaller than the standard rear seat size. It isn’t uncommon for the roofline of a coupe to have a more dramatic, sportier slope.
So – to put it bluntly – no. The Porsche Cayenne Coupe technically isn’t a coupe, but its slinky design and endless list of upgrades and features have us thinking that we might not mind.
Cayenne Coupe vs Regular Cayenne
Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, says “[the Coupe] has an even more dynamic design and new technical details that position it as more progressive, athletic, and emotional.” While retaining all the highlights of the regular Cayenne, the Coupe sports sharper lines, and a completely redesigned rear section.
The headroom of the rear seat and the overall cargo room is 22 cubic feet in the Coupe, while 27 in the regular Cayenne. Porsche has shifted the rear seats 1.18 inches lower to compensate for the loss in head room, and they’ve changed the rear seats to individual buckets, as opposed to the bench found in the regular Cayenne. But, with Porsche remaining ever customizable, buyers can spec a normal bench for no extra cost, if they prefer.
Features Of The Cayenne Coupe
The new Coupe model builds onto the solid foundation the regular Cayenne provided. Upgrading most of the standard equipment of the Cayenne; the starting MRSP of the standard Coupe model includes:
- Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) – This is an electronic damper system that allows the driver to adjust damping force and suspension firmness based on the conditions of the road and style of driving.
- Front and rear Remote Park Assist, as well as a reversing camera.
- Full-length panoramic sunroof with a shade standard-fit in order to prevent affecting the driver’s sight and UV overexposure. If preferred, an exposed carbonfibre roof is available.
- Sport Chrono Package – This is a system that changes elements of the chassis, engine and transmission in order to optimize your vehicle’s performance. Sport Chrono Package equips the Coupe with performance display, analogue and digital stopwatches, and the Sport Plus button.
Performance Specs – In Case You Weren’t Sold Yet
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is basically indistinguishable from the latest SUV when you look beneath its sloping roofline. Standard fit includes all-wheel drive and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Buyers have two options to choose from:
- Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3-liter V6, 0 – 100 km/h (62mph) in 6 seconds, top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph), 22.2-23.9mpg combined fuel economy, 212-215 g/km CO2, 335bhp, 332lb ft
- Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe 4-liter V8 twin-turbo, 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds, top speed of 284 km/h (177 mph), 20.2-20.8mpg combined fuel economy, 250-261 g/km CO2, 543bhp, 568lb ft
So… Do We Mind That This Isn’t Actually A Coupe?
While we could stick with being offended by the incorrect naming, the Cayenne Coupe is the type of car that makes you feel uncharacteristically forgiving. This is the perfect vehicle for when you want to feel sporty and extravagant while remaining both versatile and practical.
Getting one of your own will cost you $75,300 for the Coupe, or $130,100 for the Turbo Coupe.