Because We Can: The German SUV 'Coupe' Scene Now Comprises Three Automakers

Let it never be said that car companies don’t offer people what they want, because, according to sales data, BMW and Mercedes-Benz haven’t sold zero X4s, X6s, GLE Coupes, and GLC Coupes.

There is a market for four-door SUVs with steeply raked rears. Just because you don’t want one and hate the erroneous application of the word “coupe” (this author belongs in both camps) doesn’t mean your neighbor feels the same way. What you see above is Porsche’s first member of this strange new cabal of vehicles. It’s the Cayenne.

The Cayenne Coupe.

Porsche’s entry to the game comes a year after the North American debut of the third-generation Cayenne. At the time, back in Stuttgart, designers were penning a model that the brand no doubt wished it could have fielded years earlier, if only as a retort to its German rivals.

Alas, screwing with a model’s proportions requires advanced planning. And the 2020 Cayenne Coupe does differ from its namesake sibling in a number of ways: For a more rakish roofline, the roof’s leading edge is eight-tenths of an inch lower than on the Cayenne, shortening the front A-pillars and reducing windshield height. Rear passengers sit 1.2 inches lower in this vehicle. Its hips — the rear doors and sail panels — stretch horizontally by an additional seven-tenths of an inch.

Looking to attract a mate? The rear spoiler, tucked between the expansive (and standard) panoramic roof glass and the not-for-sliding rear window, extends upwards by 5.3 inches at speeds above 55 mph. Domestic SUVs seldom need extra downforce in the rear.

If you’re interested in lightening your load, a carbon roof can be had with one of the three optional sports packages, and is also available as a standalone feature. The snazzy seat inserts you see above come with the Sport Design package, which also swaps the model’s standard 20-inch wheels for low-weight 22-inch GT Design numbers. Expect to shave a tenth of a second off your 0-62 run (to 5.9 seconds). Turbo Coupe buyers, who gain 21-inch wheels as their stock setup, see a performance exhaust with this package.

Power comes to stock Cayenne Coupe buyers in the form of a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, good for 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, though signing for a Turbo Coupe brings a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 into the fold. That engine generates 542 hp and 568 lb-ft, propelling the four-seater to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds. Both of these engines pair with a ZF eight-speed automatic.

Of course, opting for a “coupe” SUV is not with its drawbacks, as cargo volume inevitably gets a haircut. Porsche claims owners will find 22 cubic feet of toy and grocery capacity behind the rear seat (21.2 in the Turbo Coupe), which is less than the 27.1 cubes offered in the Cayenne. This will hardly matter to buyers longing for a slinkier-looking Porsche SUV.

While the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe should start hitting German dealerships in early summer, American customers will have to wait until fall. Once on these shores, basic coupes will start at $76,550 after destination. Turbo Coupes carry a steep premium — Porsche demands $131,150 for the privilege of driving away in the most voluptuous of Cayennes.

[Images: Porsche AG]