New-look Porsche Cayenne gets power, EV range and tech boosts

There's also a power boost for the top-rung, V8-engined Cayenne GT, which now touts 650bhp and clocks 0-62mph slightly quicker than the 911 GT3, in a blistering 3.2sec - but this range-topper has been taken off sale in Europe for emissions-compliance reasons. Europe is in line to soon receive a stiffened-up, V8-engined Cayenne GTS, however.

Just as significant as the drivetrain revamp is the work that Porsche has carried out to give the Cayenne an "increased range between ride comfort and performance". New two-valve shocks – working in conjunction with a two-chamber air suspension system – with separate rebound and compression stages are said to boost agility in hard corners, enhance ride comfort at low speeds and reduce pitch and roll.

Plus, the tyres are bigger, which improves comfort and has the added benefits of both filling the arches more effectively and being able to run at a lower pressure, thereby boosting grip.

Weinberger said that getting the chassis set-up right was an absolute priority when it came to extending the Cayenne's lifecycle: "The quality of the Cayenne since it came onto market has always been a very wide range between driving like a sports car and, on the other hand, a luxurious travelling car for the whole family."

That focus on luxury and refinement extends to a dramatic, Taycan-inspired overhaul of the Cayenne’s interior, revealed last month. Aimed at providing an "even more intensive driving experience" while facilitating interaction, both with the car and the front-seat passenger, the new dashboard is dominated by a full-width digital panel comprising three screens: a 12.6in curved instrument cluster, a 12.3in central infotainment screen and – new for 2023 – an optional touchscreen in front of the passenger. 

This new 10.9in interface allows the passenger to "take the strain off the driver" by setting the sat-nav and adjusting the media settings. Innovative screening technology means it's invisible to the driver, minimising distraction on the move.

The "free-standing" digital instrument display (with up to seven different views, including a five-dial set-up reminiscent of that in the Porsche 911), new-generation steering wheel, dash-mounted drive selector and redesigned centre console take their lead from the Taycan - and it all forms part of Porsche's ploy to achieve a balance between digital and analogue elements for maximum global appeal.

"If you ask a Chinese customer,” explained Weinberger, “they say: 'The bigger the screens, the better'. More screens, bigger screens, more lights... But if you ask a customer in Europe or the US, they say: 'No, I like knobs. I don't like this touchy stuff'."

The extensive mechanical and technological overhaul is belied by a relatively subtle exterior makeover, which is headlined by the introduction of a reshaped front end hosting new-look matrix LED headlights with more than 32,000 pixels per cluster.