2018 Porsche Cayenne spotted sans camouflage

According to the latest reports, the next-generation Porsche Cayenne will become available sometime in 2017 or early 2018 and it’s likely it will be officially presented at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September. These latest spy shots reveal more of the new styling than all other photos before — including the LED strip connecting the two tail lights. We’ve seen this feature on prototypes of the next generation 911, but it looks like the Cayenne will actually be the first to come with it.

It’s also known that the 2018 Cayenne will definitely get a new underpinning. This will be the Volkswagen Group’s MLB SUV platform or, more precisely, the shortened version. The platform already exists in the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, so we know some specific details. The architecture involves a combination of aluminium, carbon fibre and ultra high-strength steel, which will make the 2018 Cayenne lighter and more rigid and agile.

Our new spy shots also confirm the car maker plans to incorporate a lot of details from the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and some cues from the smaller Macan crossover. This way, the future design will get an amazing clamshell hood, though without the concept’s C-shaped fender vent. The interior will receive a complete redesign, while there should be some infotainment and safety changes too.

Porsche’s engine department will provide several interesting engines. There will be a 4.0-litre V8 and 3.6-litre V8, as well as a turbocharged 2.9-litre V6. There will also be a plug-in hybrid with a 3.0-litre engine as part of the powertrain and a diesel option too. At this stage there is no word on which engines will be chosen for the South African market. – BD Motor News (Pics: Brian Williams Photography/SpiedBilde)