What's all this about?
After adding a new Platinum Edition to the Panamera range, Porsche has seen fit to do the same with its Cayenne SUV and its Coupe-shaped sibling. The new trim level’s appeal is mostly aesthetic, but Porsche has added some extra equipment to help justify the increased price tag.
That means the Platinum Edition is marked out by its satin-finish Platinum detailing, including the inlays in the front air intake slats and the 21-inch RS Spyder Design alloy wheels. Even the Porsche lettering in the rear light strip is finished in satin Platinum, as is the model designation on the tailgate.
However, the sports tailpipes and side window trims are finished in black, giving the car a bit of contrast, while there’s a choice of paint finishes. Solid white and black colours are available, as well as the metallic Jet Black, Carrara White (no, that isn’t a misprint), Mahogany and Moonlight Blue. Finally, the special Crayon gray is also available as an option. No matter which colour you choose, Crayon features on the seatbelts, while the door sills are finished in brushed aluminium with a Platinum Edition logo, and there’s a textured aluminium interior package with silver-coloured trims.
In addition to the standard Cayenne features, the Platinum Edition also comes with eight-way power-adjustable leather sports seats, complete with the Porsche crest on the front and rear headrests. A Bose surround-sound system, ambient lighting and an analogue dashboard clock are all included in the price tag, as are the LED headlights. A panoramic glass roof system and privacy glass round out the kit list.
What's under the bonnet?
There’s a choice of three engines, but they’re all V6 petrol motors. As standard, the Platinum Edition comes with the 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine from the standard Cayenne, giving it 340hp, but there’s also an E-Hybrid version that combines that engine with a 136hp electric motor. That means there’s a total of 462hp, and the car can cover between 25 and 27 miles on electricity alone. Counterintuitively, the range is topped by the S model, which has the smallest of the three engines – a 2.9-litre V6 that churns out 440hp.
So it's quick, then?
Oooh, yes. Porsche describes the Cayenne Platinum Edition as an “an agile all-wheel drive sports car that mixes discreet style with the capability to carry up to five passengers in comfort”. And though that sounds a bit daft in a luxury SUV, the performance figures back that up. The standard, 340hp version takes just 6.2 seconds to get from a standstill to 62mph, while the top speed is 152mph. Opt for the Coupe and the 0-62mph time falls to six seconds flat, although the top speed also drops by 2mph.
Move up to the 462hp E-Hybrid and the performance improves again. The standard SUV takes five seconds to get to 62mph, while the Coupe takes 5.1 seconds. The top speed for both body shapes is 157mph.
Although the S is 22hp down on the E-Hybrid, it’s lighter, so it’s just as fast. The sprint from 0-62mph takes 5.2 seconds in the standard SUV shape and 5.0 in the Coupe, while the top speed is more than 160mph (164 for the SUV and 163 for the Coupe).
How much is it, and when can I have one?
Prices start at £69,230 for the basic Cayenne Platinum Edition SUV, rising to £70,350 for the Coupe. If you want the E-Hybrid, that will set you back £77,330 (the Coupe is a mere £510 more), while the S comes in at £80,450 in SUV form and £81,580 in Coupe shape.
The order books are open now, but even the very first customers to put their names down will have to wait until May to receive their car.
James Fossdyke - 16 Jan 2022
