Technological highlights of the 2018 Porsche Cayenne

New generation Cayenne even closer to its roots as a Porsche sports car than its predecessors. Best-in-class performance.

• New, compact V6 and V8 petrol engines, now with central turbocharger mounting. Engines débuted in latest Panamera. More performance. Lower fuel consumption. V8 engine block stronger although 6.7 kg lighter. V6 diesel will be available at the end of the year.
• New, more responsive 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. Quicker-shifting. Shift-by-wire. Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes, with the option of an ultra-responsive Sport Chrono Package that is operated by a steering wheel-mounted switch which Porsche first featured on the 918 Spyder.
• Active Porsche Traction Management for the all-wheel drive system. Automatic stop/start function now switches off engine as the car coasts to a stop. 2018 Cayenne can tow a 3.5-ton trailer.
• 4-D Chassis Control provides optimum balance between performance and comfort. New technologies include optional rear axle steering, three-chamber, adjustable air suspension and 48-volt, electronically-controlled rolling motion compensation system. Mixed tyres and wheels (wider at the rear) fitted to a Cayenne for the first time.
• World premiere of the innovative Porsche Surface-Coated Brakes (PSCB), which are standard on Turbo S and optional on other derivatives. Mirror-like finish on the discs. Less brake dust. Exceptionally hard tungsten carbide coating gives longer life and improved responsiveness with specially-developed pads. PSCB, at about €3 000, much less expensive then ceramic composite brakes (€10 000). The braking system will be exclusive to Porsche for 12 months and then rolled out to some of the other brands in the Volkswagen Group.
• Lightweight construction. Bodyshell now 47% aluminium, including all outer panels. Previous model had only aluminium tailgate, bonnet, and doors. Latest bodyshell construction a combination of aluminium – sheet, extrusions, and castings – and micro-alloyed, high strength steel. Bodyshell 135kg lighter than that of the predecessor and 225kg lighter than the bodyshell of the first-generation Cayenne. The previous Cayenne body required 99 robots to put each body shell together, while the complex new body requires 680 robots to do the same job in the same time.
• Active aerodynamics on Cayenne Turbo S. Adaptive roof spoiler at the top of the tailgate is a first in the SUV world. Acts as an airbrake under very hard braking, cutting braking distance by up to two metres.
• Active cooling air flaps and air curtain for all Cayennes, which ensures a quick warmup with aerodynamic benefits and flaps only open enough to provide optimum cooling. The air curtain allows air to escape from the front wheel arches to significantly diminish air turbulence around the front wheels.
• Porsche Connect, a major step towards the intelligent vehicle, means continuous access to the internet for real-time navigation and traffic information as well as other services. New and redeveloped assistance systems take the burden off the driver.
• Porsche Advanced Cockpit provides a new type of interaction between the driver and the vehicle. System originally developed for Panamera and adapted for use in the Cayenne.
• Driver controls all key functions using three methods: Porsche Communication Management system with 12.3-inch touch screen, multi-function steering wheel and touch-sensitive Direct Touch Control in the centre console.
• Cayenne and Cayenne S are equipped with hi-fi speakers for the infotainment system, while the Turbo comes with the new BOSE Surround Sound System.
• Porsche Communication Management system also acts as a command centre for all the driving dynamics systems in the Cayenne. The various off-road settings are no long selected via individual buttons in the centre console, but by using a specific menu on the screen. There are four off-road modes – gravel, mud, rock, and sand – displayed in 3D against the background of selected scenery.
• Porsche-developed InnoDrive uses adaptive cruise control and navigation data to act as a virtual co-driver. Adaptive cruise control incorporates a stop-go function.

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