Porsche has previewed its next generation Porsche Cayenne SUV ahead of its official debut at the Geneva motor show on March 2.

The new range boasts an improvement in fuel economy of up to 23 per cent with more performance, as well as new dynamic exterior styling which echoes the Porsche Panamera.

Having been put on a strict diet during its development, the new Porsche Cayenne range is up to 180kg lighter than the equivalent predecessor.

This is thanks in part to a selection of lightweight materials and a new active and extra-light all-wheel drive transmission which make a significant contribution to the overall improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Of course this is not the only benefit, with the new Porsche Cayenne no longer being the lumbering giant it once was with improved performance, agility and handling.

The highlight of the new model line-up is the introduction of a Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid variant which features a full hybrid drive train which combines the performance of a V8 with the fuel economy of a V6.

Emitting just 193 g/km of CO2, the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid is not only the cleanest Cayenne yet, but also the most environmentally responsible car in Porsche’s history – period.

Combining a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine and an electric motor, the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid develops total peak power of 284kW and 580Nm from just 1000rpm, offering the same kind of performance as the equivalent V8 model with a combined fuel consumption figure of just 8.2-litres per 100km.

The Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid also incorporates a so-called ‘sailing mode’ whereby it can completely shut off the petrol engine at cruising speeds of up to 156km/h and rely solely on the electric motor to maintain momentum.

Even the flagship Porsche Cayenne Turbo boasts vastly improved efficiency by employing the newly introduced eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission which now features across the range.

In the Turbo, the new transmission helps to improve the efficiency of the 368kW twin-turbocharged V8 engine by 23 per cent, with a combined fuel consumption figure of 11.5-litres per 100km.

The story is much the same for the Porsche Cayenne Diesel and Porsche Cayenne S, boasting an improvement in fuel consumption of 20 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

Overall, the new Porsche Cayenne is 48mm longer than its predecessor, although appears more compact and agile with the new exterior styling integrating the new model into the next generation Porsche range.

Standard equipment on every Cayenne includes Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive, leather interior, dual-zone automatic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, audio system with 7-inch touch-screen, eight-way powered front seat adjustment, 18” alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, and a 100-litre fuel tank.

The Cayenne Turbo adds air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Bi-xenon headlights, 19” alloy wheels, tyre pressure monitoring, Porsche Communication Management with satellite navigation, BOSE audio system, heated seats and metallic paint.

Local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the Australian launch date.