Skip advert
Advertisement

Never before seen Porsche Cayenne Convertible revealed

If the Cayenne shocked Porsche diehards in 2002, this convertible would have put them into a coma

There are a few basic understandings that we at evo adhere to. In general, we don’t love SUVs, nor are we fans of convertible derivatives – both compromise on capability and drive for the sake of image and not much else. So when the two are combined, well, it can sometimes be a perfect storm of terrible-ness. Thankfully, the combination doesn’t reach production often – the Evoque and T-Roc convertibles are the only two in recent European memory – but Porsche could very nearly have been added to that list, with this grotesque open-top take on its original Cayenne SUV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s normal for manufacturers to explore every derivative avenue for a new model, as the Cayenne was in 2002. Yet Porsche’s experimental phase came in conjunction with a period of intensive investment in engineering from within the whole VW group under the leadership of Ferdinand Piech, meaning that unlike the proposed long-wheelbase and Coupe models, the Convertible wasn’t immediately canned. As a result, it kept the Cayenne Convertible under development long enough for this Package Function Model (PFM) to have been created.

A PFM is generally designed to physically test for things like ingress and egress, headroom, seating position and general packaging basics that are difficult to ascertain on paper or within a computer program. This model did just that, but it also allowed Porsche to mock up two different design options for the rear end, which would not just slope down to create a unique silhouette, but also integrate the massive folding roof arrangement. 

Porsche also lowered the front windscreen, and extended the length of the front doors by 200mm, giving it a, erm, unique appearance. Of course, unlike the Land Rover Evoque Convertible, which was able to use essentially all of the of the same exterior bodywork as the three-door ‘coupe’, a Cayenne convertible would have required a whole new structure, with only the front wings, bumper and bonnet shared with the standard car. 

Not only that, the standard Cayenne wasn’t really known for its aesthetic sensibilities as a five-door, so while I can’t tell you the prototype looked terrible, Porsche’s tone when talking about this model says all you need to know about its thoughts today – the joys of hindsight. 

Of course, like all development projects that don’t reach production, there was always something to learn, and in this case it utilised a folding roof mechanism design that was eventually adopted by the 991-generation 911 Targa. This model returned to the original rail-out design complete with a wraparound glass tailgate and metallic hoop, after the 993’s introduction of a sliding glass arrangement. 

Of course you can buy your Cayenne today in a coupe form, but with its gently-sloping roofline and four-doors, it’s hardly as challenging both in terms of its development or its design acuity. If you’re disappointed that Porsche chickened out, Google something called the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, and you’ll see why luxury five-door SUVs don’t make good convertibles

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Porsche Cayenne Electric nears production – prototype appears at Goodwood 2025
Porsche Cayenne Electric
News

Porsche Cayenne Electric nears production – prototype appears at Goodwood 2025

The next Porsche Cayenne is on the way, with the ultimate evo tow car getting an electric option
11 Jul 2025
Porsche Cayenne 2025 review – still the king of sporty SUVs?
Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid – front
In-depth reviews

Porsche Cayenne 2025 review – still the king of sporty SUVs?

There's clear sporting DNA in the latest Cayenne, evident in the base car and right up to the 729bhp Turbo E-Hybrid. Is it good enough to tempt you ou…
21 Mar 2025
​Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe 2024 review – the SUV that might tempt you out of an RS6
Porsche Cayenne GTS – front
Reviews

​Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe 2024 review – the SUV that might tempt you out of an RS6

The Cayenne GTS is the sweet-spot in the line-up, blending quality and dynamic finesse with just the right amount of power
30 Oct 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025