Porsche Cayenne 2011 – the leak starts

The first 'Official' photo of the 2011 Porsche Cayenne

We’ve been expecting Porsche to release details of the 2010/2011 Cayenne for the last week or so. But it now seems likely to happen any time now as the official images have started to leak out of Stuttgart (photo above).

We’ve seen a low-key 2011 Porsche Cayenne tease already from Porsche with the picture on their website showing the 2011 Cayenne lurking in the shadows. But this is the first ‘Official’ image we’ve had and, as expected, the Cayenne has evolved rather than gone for a big styling change, despite the constant moans about how ugly the current Cayenne is.

The 2011 Cayenne has grown by 40mm but has also been on a diet. It’ shed 200kg from its not inconsiderable weight (almost a whole American) which should make the new Cayenne even more nimble than it already is (yes, certainly for a full sized SUV, the current Cayenne is nimble). The nose has been refined, it has a lower roofline and a the back end rakes more steeply.

Inside the Cayenne has had a Panamera makeover. The whole ambience seems much more upmarket (the current Cayenne interior is beautifully made but is starting to feel a bit old and low-rent) and there’s a much sportier and contemporary look to the sleeker, button-festooned centre console.

Leaked photo of the 2011 Porsche Cayenne interior

Using the same underpinnings as the 2010/2011 VW Touareg (and the next-gen Audi Q7) the Cayenne loses much of its old mud-plugging toys but the hope is that electronic gizmos will make up for the loss. There will be the usual choice of engines from V6 diesel through to turbo V8 and, for the first time in a Porsche, a hybrid V6.

We’re bound to get the official gen any time soon so we’ll run that when we get it, complete with 2011 Cayenne photos and all the reams of information we’ll doubtless get from Porsche.

By Cars UK