2019 Porsche Cayenne Coupe
While the spy shots suggested that Cayenne Coupe is a regular Cayenne with a revised rear end, this sleek SUV is more than that. Porsche made notable revisions to the front fascia as well, where it included a new grille. The three-piece element of the regular Cayenne was revised to include larger vents on the sides and new vertical and horizontal slats that give it a more aggressive look. The daytime running lights now include a pair of LED stripes on each side instead of just a light bar. The lower bumper, the headlamps, and the engine hood appear to be the same, but the new grille is enough to put the Cayenne Coupe into sportier territory. Moving onto the sides, the Cayenne Coupe retains the proportions of the regular SUV from the nose toward the B-pillars. Changes in this area include a slightly lower roof and shorter windscreen. Porsche says the roof sits 0.8 inches lower so it鈥檚 not exactly noticeable, but it adds to the sleekness of the vehicle when combined to all the other changes. The Cayenne Coupe stands out on its own behind the B-pillars.
The rear doors don鈥檛 seem to be notably smaller, but their windows are obviously different in order to accommodate the coupe-style roof. The glass becomes increasingly smaller toward the rear, where they meet smaller quarter panels. The D-pillars are also sleeker and descend smoother toward the deck lid. All these features make the Cayenne Coupe鈥檚 rear profile look a bit more muscular. The Coupe鈥檚 rear end is notably different than the regular Cayenne except for the trademark taillights that extend over the entire width of the fascia. The tailgate is obviously different due to the heavily slanted rear windscreen, but the roof spoiler was redesigned too. Perhaps the biggest news is the adaptive spoiler integrate into the tiny deck lid. This element extends by 5.3 inches at speeds above 56 mph to increase downforce to the rear axle. The rear fascia is cleaner than the Cayenne鈥檚 below the taillights because Porsche decided to move the license plate recess into the bumper. This revision adds a touch of sportiness that鈥檚 also backed by the more aggressive bumper design and diffuser-like element.
Definitely a cool way to eliminate the utilitarian feel of the regular Cayenne. The base Cayenne Coupe rides on 20-inch wheels as standard, but Porsche offers a new set of 22-inch GT Design rims for this crossover. The thin, twin-five-spoke wheels are obviously inspired by the 911 sports car. A panoramic sunroof is also included as standard, but the big news is that you can ditch it for an optional carbon-fiber roof. This is a first for the Cayenne and a feature that shades a few pounds of the SUV鈥檚 curb weight. Porsche doesn鈥檛 say how many pounds were removed here, but combined with the smaller pillars and the shorter roof; the Cayenne Coupe should be at least 30 pounds lighter in this department only. Overall, the Cayenne Coupe looks just like what it鈥檚 supposed to be: a competitor for the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. As you might have already guessed, the Cayenne Coupe is identical to its regular sibling inside the cabin. This isn鈥檛 a bad thing though as Porsche redesigned the Cayenne for the 2018 model year and the cabin looks fresh.
Look for the same rectangular dashboard with a big infotainment display in the center, a trapezoidal center console with controls on both sides of the gear shifter, and vertical A/C vents at the corners. The familiar Porsche steering wheel with three spokes sits in front of a digital instrument cluster with a big rev counter in the middle. Just like the regular SUV, fit and finish is of the premium variety, as are the materials, including the plastic bits in the less expensive models. Of course, you can opt for various materials for the seats, dashboard, and door panels, including leather and Alcantara. But Porsche actually placed the Cayenne Coupe a tad higher in the lineup. Unlike the regular SUV, it comes standard with eight-way adjustable sports seats. These are very similar to the 18-way seats that are standard in the Turbo version, so they offer enhanced lateral support and feature integrated headrests.
The Cayenne Coupe becomes unique in the rear, where the coupe-style roof decreases headroom for rear passengers. Porsche has yet to release figures so it鈥檚 hard to say how much room there is, but tall passengers should have some issues in the rear seats. However, if you鈥檙e not too tall, you should be just as comfortable as in the regular Cayenne as Porsche managed to lower the sets by almost 1.2 inches. Just like the regular Cayenne, the Cayenne Coupe comes with a rear bench as standard, but you can opt for the individual rear seats at no additional cost. This layout turns the Cayenne Coupe into a four seats and enhanced comfort and shoulder room for rear-seat passengers. Unfortunately, the coupe layout impacts cargo room as well. This crossover can take up to 22 cubic feet of luggage behind the second-row seats, a 5.2-cubic-foot drop compared to the regular Cayenne. The Turbo model takes up to 21.2 cubic feet with a similar decrease.