Porsche has brought us the expected spin-off of its all-electric Cayenne SUV - it's the new Cayenne Coupe Electric.
Have there always been Coupe versions of the Cayenne?
No, across its previous three generations from 2002, it was only the Mk3 which gained a Coupe spin-off, arriving in 2019. Bear in mind that car is going to continue in production with petrol and PHEV powertrains, sold alongside the new electric Cayenne in SUV and now Coupe body styles.
How does the altered shape change the Cayenne Electric?
The Coupe is, dimensionally, exactly the same length and width as the Cayenne Electric SUV, with an identical three-metre-plus wheelbase too. The difference is that it is 24mm lower, with a completely different roof and tailgate shape from the A-pillars backwards. This also necessitated the creation of a unique windscreen design for the Cayenne Coupe. Porsche reckons the Cayenne Coupe looks like a 911 in profile, with the same 'flyline' to its aesthetics.
Like the Cayenne Electric SUV, the new Coupe has a full suite of active aerodynamics, including cooling-air flaps in the front bumper, unusual vertical spars which emerge from either side of the rear bumper and a different design of spoiler for the rear.
The 0.23 coefficient-of-drag aerodynamic figure is 0.02 better than that of the regular-shaped Cayenne Electric, which Porsche says results in the overall range of the Coupe improving by 15km, model-for-model. The official figure is 632-666km depending on model.
Does the Cayenne Coupe get the same powertrains as the SUV?
It does indeed. The entry point is the 408hp (442hp on overboost) Cayenne Coupe Electric. Above that is the Cayenne S Coupe Electric, with 544hp nominally and 666hp on overboost (it's also the S Coupe with the 666km range, so devout religious types might want to look away from this variant now...).
And at the top of the tree is the demented Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric, producing up to 857hp most of the time, but capable of delivering 1,156hp and 1,500Nm when launch control is in use.
Is the Porsche Cayenne Coupe less practical?
In some regards, this newcomer is as versatile as the SUV, as it has the same 90-litre 'frunk' for storing cables and the like, as well as a peak towing rating of 3,500kg of braked trailer, spec-depending.
However, there are just two rear (electrically adjustable) seats in the back of the Cayenne Coupe as standard, with a '2+1' configuration available as an option.
We had a quick sit in the back of a Coupe at the launch of the Cayenne Electric, and it is ever so slightly less roomy in the second row, although it's still a very comfortable place to have to spend some time.
You also lose some boot space, though. The standard Cayenne EV has 781 litres of capacity with all seats in use, rising to 1,588 litres with the second row folded down. In the Coupe, the same stats are diminished to 534 and 1,347 litres respectively.
Anything else different about the Cayenne Coupe Electric?
It can be optioned with a Lightweight Sport Package, saving up to 17.6kg of weight depending on the variant of the Porsche chosen.
It brings in a carbon-fibre roof, carbon-fibre exterior and interior trim detailing, bespoke 22-inch alloys with sports tyres and some interior material finishing alluding to the company's motorsport prowess - including Pepita seat fabric and a Racetex headliner.
Do we have Irish prices for the Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric?
Not yet, but we know in its native Germany that it costs €3,000-€3,900 more, spec-for-spec, than the Cayenne Electric. Obviously, the SUV is more expensive in Ireland than it is in Germany anyway, so we could potentially see a bigger uplift for the Coupe here.
But roughly extrapolating from the regular Cayenne EV's prices of €113,660, €136,730 and €179,280 (for the Cayenne, the S and the Turbo accordingly), we'd estimate something like €117,000-€183,000 for the Cayenne Coupe Electric line-up.