Photo: SB-Medien
As the third-generation Porsche Cayenne goes deeper into its development, German engineers are starting to do what they do best, namely throw in pioneering pieces of technology.
To be more precise, Cayenne The Third has recently been spied wearing an active rear spoiler. The aerodynamic element comes with a flap running the entire width of the spoiler, whose angle can either increase downforce or make the vehicle more slippery to boost fuel efficiency.
This is a first for the SUV segment, but it only seems natural, given the plethora of active systems modern Porsche pack, from the stabilizer bars to the yet-unrevealed variable compression ratio Zuffenhausen has patented.
Speaking of which, now that the Audi Q7 has brought four-wheel steering to the segment, we're expecting the Porsche to follow suit.
The rest of the spied prototype doesn't give us too many clues on what the next Cayenne will look like. However, we can tell you the vehicle will ride on the VW Group's fresh MSB modular platform, which has already been put to work in the second-gen Q7 and Bentley Bentayga.
The new platform will not only increase structural rigidity but also bring a weight reduction of at least 220 lbs (100 kg).
Porsche is known to be working on a new generation of turbocharged V6 and V8 units together with Audi and we expect to see these under the hood of the new Cayenne. In fact, the units will most likely debut in the 2017 Panamera.
For one thing, the current twin-turbo V8 serving the Turbo models is not too different from the engine used when Porsche launched its first SUV in the early 2000s. Will these engines feature the electric turbo technology Audi has been showcasing in concept form? It's too early to tell.
Mix the details mentioned above and you'll get to the conclusion that the current 8-minute (flat) Nurburgring lap time of the Cayenne Turbo S will be beaten by quite a margin.
At the other end of the efficiency scale, we'll find the next-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain. Now that Porsche has set out to build an all-electric car (Mission E, anybody?), expect significant advances on this front.
We've seen the German automaker making the Cayenne more comfortable with the mid-cycle revamp of the second generation, with much of the credit going to the softer seats.
The new model will follow this trend, but the most important change is the one we've already spied on the second-generation Panamera, namely touch controls.
Zuffenhausen is expected to release the new Cayenne late next year as a 2018 model, but we'll have plenty of occasions to uncover new details by then.
This is a first for the SUV segment, but it only seems natural, given the plethora of active systems modern Porsche pack, from the stabilizer bars to the yet-unrevealed variable compression ratio Zuffenhausen has patented.
Speaking of which, now that the Audi Q7 has brought four-wheel steering to the segment, we're expecting the Porsche to follow suit.
The rest of the spied prototype doesn't give us too many clues on what the next Cayenne will look like. However, we can tell you the vehicle will ride on the VW Group's fresh MSB modular platform, which has already been put to work in the second-gen Q7 and Bentley Bentayga.
The new platform will not only increase structural rigidity but also bring a weight reduction of at least 220 lbs (100 kg).
Porsche is known to be working on a new generation of turbocharged V6 and V8 units together with Audi and we expect to see these under the hood of the new Cayenne. In fact, the units will most likely debut in the 2017 Panamera.
For one thing, the current twin-turbo V8 serving the Turbo models is not too different from the engine used when Porsche launched its first SUV in the early 2000s. Will these engines feature the electric turbo technology Audi has been showcasing in concept form? It's too early to tell.
Mix the details mentioned above and you'll get to the conclusion that the current 8-minute (flat) Nurburgring lap time of the Cayenne Turbo S will be beaten by quite a margin.
At the other end of the efficiency scale, we'll find the next-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain. Now that Porsche has set out to build an all-electric car (Mission E, anybody?), expect significant advances on this front.
We've seen the German automaker making the Cayenne more comfortable with the mid-cycle revamp of the second generation, with much of the credit going to the softer seats.
The new model will follow this trend, but the most important change is the one we've already spied on the second-generation Panamera, namely touch controls.
Zuffenhausen is expected to release the new Cayenne late next year as a 2018 model, but we'll have plenty of occasions to uncover new details by then.
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