I drove Porsche's hi-tech £167k Cayenne Turbo – the posh hybrid SUV flies but it's the headlights that I'm obsessed with

WHEN I first hopped into the cockpit of a £167,000 Porsche Cayenne, I didn’t spare a single thought for its headlights.

My mind was brimming with delighted ideas about its racy zero-to-60 pace and the very posh Arctic Gray exterior. Not headlights.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupé is placing and, after all, very poshCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

Rear view of a grey Porsche Cayenne at night. — It manages to look even higher at the hours of darkness, particularly because of the signature mild stripCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

Man driving a Porsche Cayenne. — I drove this large Porsche round for every week and sure, I nonetheless miss the heated seatsCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

So think about my shock when sitting down to write down this tech showcase on Porsche’s gargantuan SUV, all I can take into consideration is its headlights.

I spent every week with the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupé (souped up with the GT Bundle).

It’s a stunning and sporty motor that’ll whisk you to 62mph in 3.6 seconds flat. Not unhealthy for a 2.5-tonne beast.

And it’s completely brimming with tech – however first, I desperately want to speak concerning the headlights.

LIGHT OF MY LIFE

Again within the day, driving at the hours of darkness meant continually flicking your headlights up and all the way down to keep away from blinding oncoming autos.

Then automakers begin becoming automobiles with sensors that would robotically dip your headlights for you. Intelligent, however not fairly good.

Now Porsche has taken this concept to its absolute most with its tinted HD-Matrix LED headlights.

Sure, fairly the mouthful – however bear with me.

These headlights are made up of tens of 1000’s of LEDs that work in zones.

So if a automobile is developing in the direction of you, the headlights will robotically regulate to light up the whole lot however the automobile forward.

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Car driving on a dark road at night. — That is how the headlights look from the cockpit of the Porsche when confronted with an oncoming automobile – and it is magicalCredit score: Porsche

Which means you received’t blind the automobile in entrance, however you possibly can (very helpfully) nonetheless see the place you’re going.

This doesn’t simply work on automobiles both: the Cayenne’s headlights know to keep away from overly illuminating visitors indicators too – as an alternative holding them on the good brightness.

They’ll additionally very barely spotlight the lane that you simply’re in (nice for recognizing potholes), even when it’s bending away from you.

And if you happen to’re on account of merge onto one other lane, it’ll spotlight that transition for you too. Except you haven’t signalled, after all. Naughty.

Gray Porsche Cayenne parked in front of a brick wall. — The Cayenne Turbo is fitted with HD-Matrix headlights filled with tens of 1000’s of LEDsCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

Bizarrely, Porsche says that its mild projection is so dense and exact that you could possibly truly use it to play motion pictures on a display.

In fact that will be terribly harmful whereas driving, so that they didn’t add a Harry Potter marathon mode into the headlights in the long run. Phew.

Watching all of this occur whereas driving is really a deal with.

You may see sections of the street the place a automobile is coming in the direction of you blocked out – like somebody has caught their thumb partway in entrance of a bulb.

Close-up of a gray Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid's wheel and tire. — Regardless of its immense weight, the Porsche Cayenne can carry you to 62mph in 3.6 secondsCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

It’s extremely fast and correct. Much more environment friendly than I might ever be. In order that’s a plus level for security.

Even if you happen to assume you don’t want these hi-tech headlights, take into consideration this: different folks on the street have headlights too.

A few of these folks shall be horrible drivers, and also you’re sharing the street with them.

This headlight characteristic, as soon as frequent, will cease these folks from blinding you. We have to get these things in all places, and quick.

Rear view of a gray Porsche Cayenne parked near the ocean at dusk. — It will take you as much as 190mph – however it seems to be simply as fierce at a standstillCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

MOTORING ON

In fact this Cayenne is about way more than its headlights.

It’s powered primarily by a four-litre V8 petrol engine.

However that is the hybrid mannequin, so it’s additionally backed up by an electrical motor, permitting for a formidable 950Nm of torque – and about 730 horsepower.

It’ll hit a high pace of 190mph, if you happen to ever end up someplace the place that’s authorized.

That’s spectacular given the large measurement of this automobile, which is about as comfy as a automobile could be.

This consolation was aided by eight-way electrical seats, which have been additionally heated (as was the steering wheel). Excellent, as I used to be testing the automobile in winter and I’m an enormous wimp that runs very chilly.

My spouse will not be a wimp, so she benefitted from the two-zone local weather management that meant she might set her personal temperature to one thing extra regular.

She additionally had her personal passenger show, so this automobile is nice for serving to {couples} to keep away from marital meltdown.

Porsche Cayenne dashboard showing navigation and media controls. — The Cayenne has a completely monumental show array, giving it a sci-fi really feelCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

Porsche Cayenne climate control panel. — In fact there are many bodily buttons, knobs and switches to flick and twist – giving it a traditional really feel tooCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

To keep away from jealousy, the driving force will get bonus visuals that the passenger can’t see – within the type of a Heads-Up Show.

This initiatives ahead on the windscreen, displaying you metrics about your journey, like your pace.

And as soon as that pace comes all the way down to zero, you possibly can sit again and luxuriate in some extra of the in-car goodness.

You’ve received a particular smartphone compartment with 15W wi-fi charging.

PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO E-HYBRID COUPÉ – THE KEY SPECS

Listed here are the important thing particulars…

High pace: 190mph0 to 62mph: 3.6 secondsEngine: 4-litre V8 petrol with electrical motorPower: ~730 horsepowerTorque: 950NmTransmission: 8-speed computerized gearboxElectric vary (mixed): 44 milesElectric vary (metropolis): 49 milesCharge time (11kW): 2.2 hoursLength: 4.93 metresWidth with out mirrors folded: 2.19 metresHeight: 1.65 metresWheelbase: 2.9 metresLuggage compartment quantity: 434 litresLuggage quantity with seats folded: 1,344 litresFuel tank: 70 litres

Image Credit score: Porsche

And there are even USB-C ports, which is an absolute pleasure.

USB-C is the kind of newer port that you simply’ll discover on the most recent iPhones.

And it’s now quite common on client devices, from Android telephones to headphone chargers and tablets too.

It’s the port of the future, so I’m delighted each time I see USB-C sockets fitted anyplace.

Rear view of a gray Porsche Cayenne parked on a country road. — The Cayenne is unmistakably Porsche, with a strong rear finish and a streamlined physiqueCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

Gray Porsche Cayenne parked on a road. — It seems to be improbable from the surface – although when you’re in, you will by no means wish to get out once moreCredit score: Sean Keach / The Solar

There’s a parking assist mode that simulates a chicken’s eye view of your automobile, with full 360-degree digicam protection.

And this particular mode will enable you to squeeze into these tight areas that will usually drive you bonkers.

On high of all that, Porsche has fitted the Cayenne with Apple CarPlay, which hyperlinks to your iPhone to offer you an Apple-style show in your infotainment system.

It means you’ve entry to your entire apps, contacts, and music in a well-known interface.

I’m satisfied that each automobile ought to provide this, simply because it’s so handy.

And it additionally means you possibly can very simply blast your tunes by means of the thumping Bose Encompass Sound System fitted to the Cayenne.

It’s an actual beast, and fills the cavernous inside with thick, scrumptious servings of audio.

All this gadgetry serves to make the Porsche Cayenne Turbo an absolute tech deal with – however it’s additionally a really spacious, comfy, and flash motor, if you happen to can afford one.