Joy to the world
Winter? What winter?
It’s a bright, frosty morning. Maximum blower on the screen, heated element on the rear, and on my seat too. By the time I’ve plumbed my destination into the nav, the glass is all clear and I need to turn my seat down to zero.
Slowly out of town, bide my time behind a cautiously driven Civic, then the moment the other lane is clear I’m round and gone, the turbocharged V6 responding heartily and instantly. It’s thrillingly alive, with a deepness to the sound that’s a match for the weight of the controls.
Turn right into a narrower lane, with mud encroaching from the wet fields on either side. When I have to stop straddling the crown because there’s an oncoming car, the tyres shrug off any thoughts of a split-mu ambush. I’ve probably moved over more than is necessary; the Cayenne Coupe is big but not too big for English B-roads. And from some brief experiments I know that the Porsche has the grip, the ruggedness and the ride height to cope with verges, laybys, farm tracks – anything a little tricky.
A bendy bit. Everything feels so well balanced and co-ordinated. I look where I want to go, I use the throttle to say how fast I’d like to go, and there we are.
I reach my destination, conduct my largely unnecessary business and head back home, taking a slightly curvier route. Auto shifting is fine, but I use the paddles. First in D, but I soon realise how keen the car is to override your choices and return to full auto. Then in M, which leaves you in whichever gear you’ve chosen. It’s a good opportunity to rev a bit more, and let the V6 hit some higher notes.
And then back into town, auto again, no need to mess with the other modes, ease off the gas, relax into the firm but comfortable sports seat, close the blind on the panoramic glass roof to avoid being dazzled from above, turn some music on to take advantage of the Bose audio upgrade, and wonder when I’ll next find an excuse to go for a drive.
Porsche Cayenne S Coupe Month 2
The story so far
S version of the Coupe version of the third-generation Cayenne. It’s a voguish look, but surely that won’t be at the expense of dynamism?
+ Quick, comfortable, stylish and very well equipped
Thirsty and expensive
Logbook
Price £73,658 (£91,449 as tested) Performance 2894cc turbocharged V6, 435bhp, 5.0sec 0-62mph, 163mph E ciency 23.2mpg (o cial), 22.1mpg (tested), 278g/km CO2 Energy cost 22.9p per mile Miles this
month 430 Total miles 2138