Yes, this really is a new-gen model despite the way it looks.

A huge symphony projected onto a massive display, and a large number of dancers in white robes set the mood for the third-gen Porsche Cayenne to roll onto the stage for its first official outing at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. When you think of a new-gen model making its debut, you expect to see something quite different, but with the Cayenne, it was more about honing perfection instead of trying to reinvent the model. And, while some may have their reservations about it (perhaps even me included,) beauty runs much deeper than the skin on this baby. First off, the body is now all aluminum from front to rear (minus a few pieces of plastic cladding, of course) which contributed to a weight loss of around 65 kilo or 143.3 pounds. That’s the weight of a small human, and when you add in the fact that it gets more power, there’s no doubt about it, the new Cayenne has all that sports car DNA Porsche was aiming for. How did it make this possible? Well, I’m glad you asked.

For starters, a new rear axle steering system is standard equipment for better maneuverability while a three-chamber suspension system keeps the ride on point. What’s more important, however, is the power upgrades that contribute to better performance. The base model gets a 3.0-liter that’s good for 340 horsepower, a 40-pony improvement, and 331 pound-feet of torque. The Cayenne S, which gets the 2.9-liter V-6, will deliver a tasty 440 horsepower (20 extra ponies) and 405 pound-feet of twist. They can hit 62 mph in 6.2 and 5.2 seconds, respectively. If you opt for the Sport Chrono package, those figures drop to 5.9 and 4.9 seconds. Maximum speed for both models is pegged at 164 mph. As for the interior, there are some nice changes in play as well, including better digitization of the instrument cluster (all but the central analog gauge) and a large, 12.3-inch touchscreen display in the center stack. New HVAC vents help to provide a fresh look while the typical support handles on the doors and console have been moved forward a bit. Cargo capacity has increased to 27.19 cubic-feet, an improvement of 3.53 cubic-feet over the outgoing model. This can be attributed to its slightly longer stance, which was increased by nearly 2.5 inches. Finally, and arguably most important for the interior, is the new button panel on the center console. Where there were once analog buttons clustered together now sits a glass touch screen with lots of digital buttons. It’s a nice touch, to say the least.

And there you have it. There are of course other little details to talk about, but we’ll cover that in our full review, which will be updated in the next 24 hours. For now, you can rest your mind knowing that the third-gen Cayenne starts out in Germany from €74,828 while the Cayenne S goes for €91,964, both including VAT. Those figures convert to $85,590 and $110,106, respectively. The third-gen Cayenne isn’t available for the U.S. quite yet, but if you’re over there in Germany, you can stop by your local dealer and place your order now.