After its launch in 2017, the Porsche Cayenne has been constantly renewed. The update of its third generation will hit the market with significant improvements in engine, chassis, design, equipment and connectivity. “It is one of the most important product updates in the history of Porsche”says Michael Schätzle, director of the Cayenne range.
In addition to reorganizing the offer of engines, engineers from the Weissach Development Center are making major modifications to the chassis system of the Cayenne. The goal is to expand the model’s capabilities, making it even more versatile, combining high dynamic performance, comfort for long journeys, and off-road capabilities.
For this, the Cayenne will have, among other things, a new semi-active chassis. In addition, drivers and passengers will enjoy a more digitized and connected cabin.
Another important item is the premiere of the HD-Matrix LED spotlights, a state-of-the-art technology that incorporates 16,384 pixels per module, offering high-resolution lighting and much more adjustable to various conditions.
With so many new technologies, It has been necessary to carry out complex tests to fine-tune the car in the best possible way. Most of the components are completely new developments. “We are putting the new Cayenne through a complete and exhaustive test program, as if we had designed it from the ground up”said test manager Ralf Bosch. In addition to virtual simulations, which are becoming more and more accurate, testing in real conditions remains a priority for Porsche.
Are these tests final ones that determine if a new model is ready for launch. Its goal is to ensure operational stability and functional integration of all components, in more demanding situations than customers usually experience. The vehicles will complete in a few weeks more than 200,000 kilometers on streets with urban traffic, secondary roads and highways.
To simulate extreme conditions, the prototypes also traveled around the world with the aim of testing their quality and reliability in different scenarios. In the case of the new Cayenne, the tests were carried out in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. In total, the prototypes covered more than four million kilometers. “We demand the most from the Cayenne, something that many users will never do. For this reason, the new model was subjected to tough off-road tests in Spain, traversed complicated dunes in Morocco and successfully overcame highly dynamic courses on ice rinks in Finland and on asphalt circuits, including the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife”said Dirk Lersch, who leads the Cayenne prototype assembly and testing team. “Anyone who buys a Porsche should know that it can withstand exceptionally high stresses, regardless of the surface it drives on”.
The premiere of the new Porsche Cayenne is scheduled for the second quarter of this year. It will be then when we can see and enjoy all these changes.
