2015 Porsche Cayenne | new car sales price

New high-performance V6 and subtle body changes mark a small turning point for Porsche Cayenne SUV.

As the company's most successful model - it accounts for more than 50 per cent of Porsche sales - it was necessary for it to be new, but not too new, and to repeat the formula that make it the company's unabashed cash cow.

Only Boxster/Cayman comes close to bringing in the big bucks and, with a 12-month waiting list for some Macan SUV models, could be threatened only with its smaller sibling in the future.

For now, the Cayenne gets upgrades with the Australian spec upping features - electric tailgate, 20-inch wheels, air suspension and others are included though are model specific - and a proportionally modest price rise.

The plug-in hybrid gets a marked improvement in fuel consumption - now down to 3.4L/100km from around 8L/100km - and an electric-only maximum range of 34km, along with improvements to storage space thanks to a move from metal-hydride batteries to lithium-ion batteries.

The 2015 Cayenne arrives in Australia in November with five models comprising two diesels, two bi-turbo petrols and one petrol-electric. Porsche indicates, but won't confirm, that more variants are coming.

Prices range from $104,700 (diesel) to $230,800 for the Turbo. The Cayenne S is $139,900 and like its siblings, there's an increase in features that include all "S" derivatives having standard 20-inch wheels, metallic paint, sunroof, heated front seats and Porsche's Dynamic Light System.

Prices rises range from $1400 (Cayenne S) to $9200 (Turbo), but there's a big reduction for the surprisingly frugal S Hybrid that loses $10,700 to $139,200.

Porsche says its hybrid technology, including the first use of a plug-in recharge system, is shared with the Porsche Panamera hybrid equivalent.

It also boasts it is the first company to have three plug-in models - Panamera, Cayenne and 918 - in its line up, an achievement clearly pointed at out-greening Toyota.

Cayenne now flicks its aspirated engines, replacing the V6 and V8 petrol versions in the outgoing models with a 3.6-litre bi-turbo V6 that moves further away from its Audi-based donor. The hybrid uses a supercharged petrol V6, while the top-shelf Turbo is the 4.8-litre V8, also with two turbochargers.

In Australia, the five models get improved equipment levels, notably standard bi-xenon headlights (an upgrade from halogen lights) and for the more upmarket versions, LED headlights. Additions also include an electric tailgate, suspension and steering improvements to sharpen handling, subtle changes to the cabin including a steering wheel design copied from Porsche's 918 sports car, and less obvious styling tweaks to the body panels.

Air suspension, with height adjustability, is standard on all models except the entry-level model where it is optional. There is a heightened off-road package included in all models that adds lockable front, centre and rear differentials.