The Cayenne, Porsche’s ‘Sportscar for five’, has been assembled in Malaysia for over a year now at the Inokom plant in Kedah. Even after so many decades of global business, this is the only factory outside Germany and Europe that assembles the German sportscars. Up to the end of May this year, over 1,000 Cayennes have been assembled at the plant.
Exclusive version for Malaysia
The Cayenne has now been upgraded and according to Porsche Malaysia (represented by Sime Darby Auto Performance), the latest one is made exclusively for the Malaysian market. Priced from RM599,999, orders can be made online or at Porsche Centres around the country. Deliveries will commence by the end of 2023.
For the Cayenne assembled locally, there is only one engine choice which is a 3-litre turbocharged V6 engine with an output of 353 ps/500 Nm which goes through an 8-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.
Enhanced feature list
Besides a suite of new enhancements, the new Cayenne for Malaysia will feature an enhanced standard equipment specification, including Adaptive Cruise Control and soft-close doors. The Sport Chrono Package also comes as standard on the locally assembled Cayenne.
Three exterior colours are available – Chromite Black Metallic, Carrara White Metallic and Quarzite Grey Metallic – with black or black and red leather interiors to choose from. Additionally, the first 250 SUVs ordered online will comes with exclusive exterior paint-matched keys fobs.
Customers can also choose personalisation options such as 21-inch Cayenne Exclusive Design wheels and 22-inch Sport Design wheels. There is also a rear seat entertainment system available along with Tequipment accessories.
The enhanced suite of standard features compared to the previous Cayenne include Matrix LED headlights, Porsche Active Suspension Management, Power Steering Plus, 20-inch Cayenne Design wheels, Front and Rear Park Assist with Surround View, and Bose Surround Sound System.
Digitised and driver-focused
Porsche has integrated a completely revised display and control concept with the new Cayenne. The new Porsche Driver Experience, first introduced in the Taycan, focuses instrumentation on the driver’s axis and optimises operation.
Functions that the driver uses frequently are located directly on or immediately next to the steering wheel. For example, the lever located on the left behind the steering wheel now has additional functions for operating the driver assistance systems.
The automatic transmission selector lever is now on the dashboard, which makes room for the new centre console for storage compartments and a large air conditioning controller. There is also a tray for wireless smartphone charging with a 15W supply so faster charging is possible.
Balancing digital and analogue
A key feature of the new Porsche Driver Experience is the right balance between digital and analogue elements. Large, easily accessible controls combined with mechanical air conditioning switches and a haptic volume controller ensure optimum operability and a refined look.
For the first time, the redesigned cockpit of the Cayenne includes a fully digital 12.6-inch instrument cluster with a curved and free-standing design, with variable display options. The standard 12.3-inch central Porsche Communication Management (PCM) display integrates harmoniously into the new dashboard and provides access to all the relevant vehicle functions.
There’s also an air quality system which uses predictive navigation data to detect approaching tunnel entrances and automatically activates air recirculation. Optionally, a sensor detects the level of fine dust particles in the air and passes it through the fine dust filter multiple times if necessary. There is also an ioniser to remove many types of germs and pollutants from the air, which is particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers.
Improved air suspension
The driving experience is additionally enhanced with the new adaptive air suspension with 2-chamber, 2-valve technology. This improves comfort with a soft suspension characteristic, stabilises the vehicle further and simplifies on-road and off-road handling – compared to both the standard suspension and the predecessor model.
At the same time, the adaptive air suspension improves driving precision and performance, and reduces body movements in dynamic driving situations. The suspension also offers an even sharper differentiation between Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes.
“The Porsche Cayenne is a leading luxury SUV model in Malaysia. With one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche, we look forward to fulfilling even more sports car dreams in Malaysia while providing the best in quality, performance, and overall driving experience with the new locally-assembled Cayenne,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.
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