Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electrical Evaluation: Higher Than The SUV?

The thought of an SUV coupe is as oxymoronic as weight loss plan soda. Yeah, it says zero energy on the label, however it nonetheless has some type of dangerous compound that may inevitably lead to the identical end result because the full-bodied drink. Nevertheless it isn’t in regards to the precise weight-reduction plan. It’s about appearances, individuals.

Therefore, the newly minted Porsche Cayenne Electric Coupe. It’s a Cayenne with a chopped roofline—a roofline that Porsche insists is taken nearly immediately from the 911. You, in fact, lose baggage house and achieve little or no when it comes to sporting character. The Coupe’s drag coefficient is a bit of decrease, and there are some sportier configurations out there, however essentially, the Coupe is just the SUV in barely completely different, maybe performative, clothes.

Possibly it isn’t weight loss plan Cayenne as a lot as its Cayenne Zero.

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Since we drove the Cayenne Turbo Electric SUV lately, I received’t spend an excessive amount of time rehashing the fundamentals. In all methods, the Coupe and SUV share trim ranges, have equivalent powertrains, and are mainly the identical SUV in two flavors.

The Coupe does get a few enhancements, although: The nifty liquid-crystal panoramic sunroof and Sport Chrono are normal, and also you get a barely higher drag coefficient; 0.23 as an alternative of the SUV’s 0.25. Dropping drag is a significant enchancment, although Porsche doesn’t declare any nice vary enchancment from it. As a bonus, the onboard wi-fi cellphone charger is now magnetized.

You additionally get the Coupe-exclusive Light-weight Sport package deal, which replaces the panoramic glass with carbon fiber and comes with 22-inch wheels shod with Pirelli PZero R tires. It saves simply 39 kilos, so it is one other instance of appearances over substance, particularly when the burden financial savings represents a mere 0.7 % general weight discount.

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

After all, the top-trim Turbo nonetheless will get a colossal 1,139 horsepower from clean clean clean, whereas the S I drove will get a (comparatively) piddling 657 horsepower courtesy of clean clean clean. The bottom settles for simply 435 hp. The dimensions of these numbers is ridiculous, particularly contemplating what the internal-combustion variants of the Cayenne are able to. It’s arguably the headline function of the Cayenne Electrical, although the inside makes an amazing argument as properly.

The wow issue comes from the curved 12.3-inch OLED infotainment show. It’s not curved as a lot because it’s bent within the center, segmenting the show properly and likewise providing a helpful pocket for vital buttons to exist inside. It’s quick, crisp, and very intuitive.

Pictures by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Pictures by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Flanked by Porsche’s 14.3-inch curved gauge cluster and an elective 14.9-inch passenger display screen, the cockpit is undoubtedly screen-heavy, however it doesn’t really feel prefer it in apply. HVAC controls like temperature and fan velocity are bodily, as is the amount management. General, I discovered the depth of usability to be unusually good.

My Oak Inexperienced Neo S Coupe had the Light-weight package deal, which was a pleasant little bit of placebo impact for my lengthy stints down de-restricted sections of the German Autobahn. If something, it was an ideal surroundings to really feel the Cayenne Electrical’s high-speed capabilities and refinement. And, there are treasured few instances when you may legally V-Max a check automotive, one thing I did with haste.

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

After all, the Coupe is typical Porsche in execution. The seating place is ideal, with the seat going simply low sufficient to really feel sporty however not too low as to permit the Cayenne’s inside to devour your area of view. The steering wheel, which is identical wheel from the earlier technology, met my arms completely. And that wheel provided a stunning murmur of tire info, with a superb, linear buildup of steering weight and a transparent sense of straight forward. Certainly, at 167 miles per hour, I couldn’t ask for extra stability or steering response. It was all good.

However there have been some wrinkles. For the dimensions and heft of the Cayenne, I used to be shocked that it was not a financial institution vault-level noise isolation chamber. A noticeable quantity of high-frequency street and ambient noise made it into the cabin at regular freeway speeds, with the higher-pitch tones from the tires and surrounding visitors penetrating via. My tester was additionally outfitted with the lively suspension system, which is generally extraordinarily trick, however was not fairly excellent. Sharp cracks and rougher bumps despatched shocks into the cabin, which doesn’t occur with the identical system on the Panamera.

And, maybe as a result of Porsche set the bar so excessive with the Taycan and Macan EVs, the Cayenne doesn’t fairly have the dealing with magic of these automobiles. To be honest, it’s a massive luxurious SUV, so it doesn’t must deal with properly, however it’s solely as a result of Porsche executed so properly on its different merchandise that I even famous it.

Porsche Cayenne S Coupe Verdict

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

For $201,150 as-tested—an enormous quantity—I do assume that the inside noise is disappointing. It’s not extremely loud, however it’s louder than it needs to be, and the Macan EV suffers from an identical problem. If it’s Porsche’s electrical platform, or a selected deficiency, I’m undecided. Nevertheless it doesn’t detract a lot from a really rosy general expertise.

The tech is extremely slick and usable, the efficiency is simple, and the vary is first rate sufficient to be usable. You don’t lose a lot rear headroom with the Coupe, and the trunk remains to be loads massive.

Actually, the Cayenne Electrical Coupe is only a matter if you would like traditional Coke or Coke Zero.