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    2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe first drive: Splitting hairs

    Never thoughts its identify. To correctly perceive the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe, do not consider it as a coupe in any respect (which should not be onerous since, you understand, it is not one).Instead, consider this rakish variant as a styling bundle within the Cayenne’s in depth choices catalog. After all, in terms of what actually issues — driving dynamics, inside refinement, onboard tech, and many others. — this new Coupe is as nice as some other SUV within the Cayenne vary.
    New butt, who dis?If you look intently, you may discover the Cayenne Coupe’s calmly (as in, barely) revised entrance fascia, in addition to its 18-millimeter-wider rear hips. But the obvious design change is the roof that is been lowered by 20 millimeters at its highest level, steadily tapering right down to the rump from there. The Coupe’s bottom differentiates itself from the usual SUV by transferring the quantity plate housing to the underside of the fender, but it surely options the identical LED taillamps as the traditional Cayenne, with a full-width gentle strip connecting the 2 sides.The Coupe’s roof spoiler has a gap within the center that permits air to circulation down the window in an effort to cut back drag. This additionally retains wind transferring over the hatch glass to assist preserve it clear. That stated, you possibly can’t get a rear wiper on the Cayenne Coupe, and whereas Porsche engineers inform me you do not really want one due to the automobile’s aerodynamic properties, after driving via a quick rain storm, I respectfully disagree. There’s additionally a bizarre little bit of distortion to the view out the rear opening, largely due to the curvature of the glass. It does not take lengthy to get used to, but it surely’s one thing you may discover straight away.A second, power-retractable spoiler is housed between the rear glass and taillights, and robotically pops up while you hit 56 miles per hour — form of like what you may discover on a Panamera or 911. When retracted, you would not even discover it is there. But the second it flips out, it form of kills the Coupe’s in any other case enticing rear visage. A small, fastened lip spoiler that sits on high of this speed-sensitive wing helps scale back drag at decrease speeds, too. For these maintaining monitor, sure, the 2020 Cayenne Coupe has three rear spoilers.Up entrance, the Coupe provides the identical luxurious and tech as some other Cayenne.
    Porsche
    Crop-top with out (main) compromiseAll Cayenne Coupes come commonplace with a glass roof, that includes an enormous, 23.2-square-foot pane that lets tons of sunshine into the cabin. An influence sunshade retains occupants from getting too toasty, however the glass panel cannot be opened like a conventional sunroof. A carbon-fiber roof could be optioned as a part of the Cayenne Coupe’s $14,400 Lightweight Sport Package, which additionally provides Alcantara to the headliner and steering wheel, carbon-fiber inside trim, blacked-out Sport Design exterior bits, 22-inch wheels and — the pièce de résistance — houndstooth fabric seat inserts, which not solely look excellent, however are extra comfy (and breathable) than the usual, leather-based upholstery. All informed, the light-weight pack can lower as a lot as 48 kilos from the Cayenne Coupe. Of course, a base Coupe is already about 100 kilos heavier than a regular Cayenne, so…In an try and offset the apparent headroom penalty of a coupe-over form, Porsche lowered the peak of the the Cayenne’s rear seats 30 millimeters. You should duck your head a bit of when getting in, however as soon as inside, backseat headroom is completely ample, even for taller passengers. The Coupe makes use of a two-seat association within the rear, with a set console between the seats, although you possibly can possibility a three-passenger bench for no extra cost.As you’d count on, the Coupe’s closely raked roof cuts into the Cayenne’s cargo capability, although the obstacle is not as drastic as you may suppose. With the rear seats up, the Coupe provides 22 cubic toes of area, versus 27 in the usual Cayenne, which remains to be lots for a couple of giant suitcases and backpacks. Fold the rear seats flat and the boot expands to 53.3 cubic toes — a 7-cubic-feet discount. Again, that is nonetheless lots of area. And let’s be trustworthy, you are not shopping for a Cayenne for its capaciousness, anyway.The Coupe’s rear passenger compartment is barely more durable to get out and in of, however when you’re seated, headroom is completely ample.
    Porsche
    The remainder of the Coupe’s inside is just a replica/paste job from the common Cayenne, and that is wonderful by me; the third-generation Cayenne has a neatly organized, fantastically designed cabin. The leather-based surfaces are comfortable to the contact, and the switchgear all has a premium really feel to its motion. The high-resolution, 12.3-inch Porsche Communication Management touchscreen infotainment system is as beautiful to make use of within the Coupe as it’s in some other Cayenne, with fast responses to inputs, a reconfigurable residence display screen, Wi-Fi connectivity and assist for Apple CarPlay (however not Android Auto).Three engines, and never a dud amongst ’emThe Coupe’s engine choices carry over unchanged, and just like the common Cayenne fashions, each model will get an eight-speed computerized transmission and all-wheel drive. Base, S and Turbo fashions all go on sale first, and a plug-in E-Hybrid model is predicted to reach later this 12 months. On the bottom finish, the Cayenne Coupe will get a 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6, with 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. I like this engine within the Cayenne; it could have the bottom output of the vary, however at no level does it really feel like a compromise. Accelerating to 60 miles per hour takes 5.7 seconds, however the expertise feels faster from behind the wheel. Initial punch and mid-range enhance are each ample, and the Cayenne’s fast steering and properly balanced chassis make it a satisfying automobile to drive quick.Step as much as the S and also you get certainly one of Porsche’s greatest engines: the twin-turbocharged, 2.9-liter V6. Its 434 horsepower, 406 pound-feet of torque, and 4.7-second 0-to-60 time flip the Cayenne Coupe right into a severe performer. The Cayenne S is a complete riot, blasting up mountain passes, gobs of energy on faucet for shortly passing slow-moving subcompacts on two-lane highways. After a number of hours behind the wheel, you may marvel why anybody might presumably must shell out for a Cayenne Turbo when the S is that this good.The Cayenne S looks like the right possibility. More than sufficient energy, however nonetheless gentle on its toes.
    Porsche
    But then you definately drive the Turbo, and the whole lot adjustments. Lovely as the bottom and S fashions are, it is onerous to not be wooed by 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque from a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8. The Turbo cuts a full second off the S’ 0-to-60 acceleration time, finishing the identical run in 3.7 seconds. I’ll say, the Turbo does not really feel as desperate to cost ahead while you’re accelerating at velocity; the S feels simply as fast within the 50-to-80-mph leap. But man oh man does the Cayenne Turbo have unbelievable efficiency chops, and the added energy completely doesn’t come on the expense of spectacular dealing with, even when this heaviest Cayenne definitely feels all of its 4,800 kilos from behind the wheel.Porsche did not alter any of the Cayenne’s chassis tuning or suspension geometry in creating the Coupe, so the on-road expertise is precisely the identical throughout all three fashions. If you want the way in which the Cayenne drives — and I do — you will not discover fault with the Coupe. Option the rear-axle steering (a part of the $4,900 Performance Package) and Porsche Torque-Vectoring Plus system ($1,500), and you will have a Cayenne that may sustain with supercars on winding roads. Punch the throttle mid-way via a hairpin flip and the Cayenne will not flinch, the rear finish rotating round with immediacy earlier than the automobile shoots ahead down the following straightaway. A giant SUV it could be, however the Cayenne remains to be a formidable driver’s automobile. The one caveat is that the 22-inch wheels, that are distinctive to the Coupe, hamper the experience high quality considerably. Even on easy Austrian roads, I can really feel the small pavement imperfections via the chassis — and that is with the optionally available adaptive air suspension set to its most comfy mode, too.It’s undoubtedly not a coupe, however nonetheless, this Cayenne is as glorious as some other.
    Porsche
    Still, my greatest piece of recommendation for potential Cayenne patrons is to not be tempted by the $3,490 Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PCSB) possibility. Yes, these stoppers scale back brake mud, however they’re actually onerous to modulate, particularly at decrease speeds. Using these brakes round city is a jerky expertise, they usually do not feel vastly completely different than the usual stoppers when bringing the Cayenne right down to a halt from greater velocities. The optionally available carbon ceramic brakes are a lot nicer to make use of than the PCSBs — and extra highly effective, too. Then once more, additionally they value $9,080. Woof.Another nice CayenneThe 2020 Cayenne Coupe begins at $75,300, not together with vacation spot, with S and Turbo fashions coming in at $88,600 and $130,100, respectively. This means Coupe fashions are roughly $10,000 costlier than their equal SUV variants, although it is value noting additionally they include a better stage of normal tools. Every Cayenne Coupe will get Porsche’s Active Suspension Management and Sport Chrono packages, in addition to sport seats, parking help and 20-inch wheels, all of that are optionally available on the common Cayenne. A Porsche consultant tells me that, with these choices added to the usual Cayenne, the Coupe is just about $1,000 to $1,500 costlier relying on trim. And since I am speaking a couple of automobile that generally has sticker costs with six figures earlier than the decimal level, an additional grand is just not precisely an enormous ask.So, why purchase a Cayenne Coupe over the extra practical, cheaper model? Maybe you like its design, or maybe you really need these houndstooth seats (you do). I am unable to actually fault anybody for selecting the Coupe over a regular Cayenne when it is essentially the identical automobile. It’s enticing, comfy and goes like hell. Call it a Coupe or simply name it a Cayenne. Either means, it is rattling good.
    Editors’ word: Travel prices associated to this function have been coated by the producer. This is frequent within the auto trade, as it is extra economical to ship journalists to vehicles than to ship vehicles to journalists. While Roadshow accepts multiday car loans from producers to be able to present scored editorial opinions, all scored car opinions are accomplished on our turf and on our phrases.The judgments and opinions of Roadshow’s editorial crew are our personal and we don’t settle for paid editorial content material.

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