New Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid revealed

The revised 2014 Porsche Cayenne SUV will feature a new plug-in hybrid version for the first time. The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid is claimed to be capable of 83mpg with CO2 emissions of just 79g/km.

The petrol-electric hybrid follows the introduction of the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid last year, and joins the new Porsche 918 Spyder supercar to become the brand’s third plug-in model.

It has an electric range of up to 22 miles, and can go from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds thanks to a supercharged V6 petrol engine mated to a powerful electric motor. It will do 77mph on electric power alone.

New Porsche Cayenne engines

Porsche has also fitted a new 3.6-litre V6 twin-turbocharged petrol engine to the Cayenne S, representing a 2mpg improvement over the old V8 model. It’ll do 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and return almost 30mpg.

The engines in the Porsche Cayenne Diesel, S Diesel and Turbo remain unchanged, with the most economical diesel model achieving as much 42.8mpg.

New Porsche Cayenne technology

Other ‘under the skin’ changes include tweaks to the car’s chassis to make it more comfortable and even sportier. A number of changes have been made to improve fuel economy, including the introduction of clever flaps which automatically open to cool the engine and close to improve aerodynamics. The updated model will also boast an ‘Auto Stop/Start Plus’ coasting function designed to cut the engine when it’s not needed to reduce fuel consumption.

New Porsche Cayenne design

Cosmetic changes are subtle. Porsche says tweaks have been made to the front grille, bonnet and wheel arches – though you’d be hard-pressed to notice. Fancy xenon headlamps are standard on Cayenne and Cayenne S models, while the range-topping Porsche Cayenne Turbo gets LED versions.

There are small changes to the rear lights, number plate surround and boot handle, while newly-designed exhaust pipes complete the new look.

Inside, the new Porsche Cayenne steals its steering wheel from its baby brother, the Porsche Macan. It features buttons for the car’s infotainment system as well as paddles for the automatic gearbox. The rear seats are now said to be more comfortable, with cold air ventilation now available as an option.

New Porsche Cayenne prices

With over 570,000 sold since it first went on sale in 2002, the Cayenne is Porsche’s best selling model. The manufacturer will hope to continue this success with prices for the basic diesel start at £49,902.

The Porsche Cayenne S Diesel and new plug-in Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid are priced identically at £61,474, with the range-topping Porsche Cayenne Turbo setting you back £93,763. The standard Porsche Cayenne S petrol model sits in the middle of the range, priced from £60,218.

To read our review of the current Porsche Cayenne, or to watch a video of the smaller Porsche Macan, visit the Carbuyer Porsche reviews page.