The new Porsche Cayenne is almost here. The third generation of the brand's first SUV will be known already on August 29 and as an “appetizer” Porsche released a short film (at the end of the article) that takes us through the rigorous testing program that the Cayenne went through.
We know that these tests aim to push the machine to the limits, ensuring its future durability. The scenarios could not be the most varied. From the scorching temperatures of the Middle East or Death Valley in the US, to facing snow, ice and temperatures of 40 degrees below zero in Canada. Durability and performance tests on asphalt naturally passed through the Nürburgring circuit or the Nardo ring in Italy.
Even off-road tests were carried out in places as diverse as South Africa and New Zealand. And how does the SUV behave in urban traffic? Nothing like taking you to congested Chinese cities. In total, the test prototypes completed around 4.4 million kilometers.
Cayenne a diesel under pressure
The engines of the new Porsche Cayenne still lack official confirmation, but it is not very difficult to predict that it will use the same units as the Panamera. Two V6 units are planned – with one and two turbos -, and a bi-turbo V8. A plug-in hybrid version should join them, equipped with a V6, and it's speculated that the V8 might receive the same treatment as the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. A Cayenne with 680 hp? It's possible.
All engines mentioned use gasoline as fuel. As for diesel engines, the scenario is complicated. As we've been reporting, Diesels haven't had an easy life these past few months. Suspicions of manipulation of emissions by virtually all manufacturers, actual emissions much higher than official ones, threats of banning circulation and collection operations for software updates have been regular news at an alarming rate.
Porsche – part of the Volkswagen group – has not been spared either. The current Porsche Cayenne, equipped with the 3.0 V6 TDI of Audi origin, was under suspicion and proved to have defeat devices. The result was the recent ban on the sale of new Cayenne Diesels in Switzerland and Germany. In the case of Germany, the brand was also obliged to collect around 22 thousand Cayenne to receive a software update.
According to Porsche, in Europe it is unthinkable that all Cayenne Diesel customers switch to a gasoline engine, due to the prevailing fuel prices. The new Cayenne will have Diesel engines – an updated version of the V6 and also a V8. Both engines continue to be developed by Audi and are later adapted to the German SUV, but their arrival on the market should be delayed until the environment is more… “unpolluted”.
It remains to be seen when they will arrive. The public unveiling of the third generation Porsche Cayenne will take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show, so by that time we should know more about not only the new model, but also about the future plans of the Cayenne Diesel.