Competition will get tougher for BMW’s X6 Sports Activity Coupé, which will be challenged in the future not only by Mercedes’ production version of the Concept Coupé SUV, but also by a Porsche Cayenne five-door coupé model.
Porsche is reportedly planning to expand the Cayenne lineup with a similar model to the BMW X6, with design proposals being at an advanced phase. The Cayenne coupé will be marketed as a sportier alternative to the regular Cayenne and will be available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, as well as plug-in petrol-electric and diesel-electric hybrid powertrains.
The Cayenne coupé will be one of seven upcoming VW Group SUVs using a new version of the MLB platform. The new model is expected to be introduced in 2018 as part of the third-generation Cayenne.
“We have been considering launching a more sporting derivative of the Cayenne for some time now. The problem has been the production capacity at our Leipzig factory and the strong sales of the regular Cayenne,” a senior Porsche official told Autocar magazine.
Since Porsche will increase capacity at the Leipzig plant when the third-generation Cayenne launches in 2017, there will be room for the Cayenne coupé as well. Styling-wise, the model is expected to be an evolution of the second-generation Cayenne but will have a more aggressive look with larger surfacing and design cues from the 918 Spyder.
Compared to the regular Cayenne, the coupé will have a lower roofline, narrow glasshouse and sloping rear end. The interior will be shared with the third-generation Cayenne and will also be influenced by the 918 Spyder. The Cayenne coupé is expected to be 15 to 20 percent more expensive than the regular Cayenne, starting at around £50,000 (€60,755) in the UK.
By Dan Mihalascu
Note: Current generation Porsche Cayenne sketch pictured
PHOTO GALLERY
