by Brad Anderson
- The Cayenne is getting updated front and rear fascias, including new LEDs.
- This undisguised prototype was snapped testing during recent winter testing.
- The Cayenne GTS should retain the current model’s twin-turbocharged V8.
There’s an updated version of the ICE-powered Porsche Cayenne just around the corner. The refreshed model won’t completely mirror the design of the new Cayenne Electric, although a few minor tweaks should help it look slightly more in keeping with the times.
This isn’t our first time seeing the refreshed Cayenne up close, but it is our first time seeing a prototype with virtually no camouflage. Indeed, there’s just a bit of tape on the headlights, a strip across part of the rear bumper, and that is more or less it. The rest of the car is on full display.
Read: Porsche’s ICE Cayenne Isn’t Done Yet, And It’s Borrowing Moves From The 911 Turbo
Unless you’re a diehard Porsche aficionado, the changes made are barely even visible. Perhaps the most obvious front-end tweak is the fitment of twin LED daytime running lights on either side, rather than just single LED strips. In addition, the air intakes are slightly different and include an extra horizontal slat. Other Cayenne variants, including the Turbo E-Hybrid, have previously been shown to adopt vertical DRLs and new active cooling slats in front of the intakes.
This prototype is widely believed to be the GTS, and like every other refreshed ICE Cayenne it will get reworked headlights, probably with a tweaked lighting signature to match.
Walk around to the back and the changes get even harder to spot. With that being said, tweaks could be made to the Porsche lettering positioned between the taillights, as evidenced by the fact that it’s been shielded from view. The quad tailpipes appear similar to the outgoing model, as does the small diffuser, though tweaks along the outer edges of the bumper suggest minor changes.
What About The Cabin?
Our spy photographers have yet to nab any images of the new Cayenne’s interior, although it’s possible it could borrow some components from the all-electric version. Whether this will include the curved central touchscreen remains to be seen, given that the ICE and EV models use different platforms.
As for power, the refreshed Cayenne GTS should retain the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that Porsche re-introduced a couple of years ago for the 2025MY GTS. Lower-end models are tipped to receive a mix of different V6 engines, some of which will include plug-in hybrid assistance.
Retaining its crown as the most powerful Cayenne should be the updated Turbo E-Hybrid. The current model delivers 729 hp and 700 lb-ft (950 Nm) from its twin-turbo V8 and electric assistance, and similar figures, or even larger ones, are to be expected.
