Porsche CAYENNE RANGE
Sometimes Corporate Expediency Can Have Great Results. Take Porsches Cayenne For Example. By Andy Enright
In global automotive terms,
Porsche may be a minnow but its a very profitable one. Even that however, might not have been enough to prevent it being gobbled up by bigger corporate giants had it not been for the introduction of this car, the Cayenne, a prestigious 4x4. If you find the concept of Porsche and off roading hard to swallow, then youre not alone. Forget that: just get behind the wheel.
Although the Cayenne marks a radical departure for the Weissach company, its not as if its the first. The VW-engined 924 drew a barrage of flak from the Porsche purists, as did the wonderful 928 and the first water-cooled 911 models. Some of the complaints are understandable. After all, financial expediency brought us the less than stellar 924 and the Cayenne smacks of similar motivation.
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Like the 924, the Cayenne has been developed in partnership with
Volkswagen to offset the cost of developing a new model. As a result, Volkswagens Touareg 4x4 shares much of the underpinnings, but the styling has evolved independently, with only the doors and the windscreen being shared. Given that a sizeable proportion of annual production is earmarked for the lucrative US market, the Cayenne is a hugely significant vehicle for
Porsche and one that makes the existing players look a little clumsy. Even BMWs X5, previously the benchmark in the premium 4x4 handling stakes, cant hold a candle to the Cayenne.
That much was perhaps predictable. What is less so is off-road capability that nudges the Range
Rover. Quite how Porsche have managed to pull this off is worth further investigation.
"The quality of fit and finish is superior to anything Porsche has produced to date"
Porsche undertook a huge amount of off-road development at places like Moab, Utah, hot weather testing in Australia, cold weather trials in Canada and so on to ensure a rugged final item. Key rivals were benchmarked, Porsche aiming to improve on their off-road capabilities. Wheel articulation is enormous, theres a proper low-range gearbox and the air suspension can pump the Cayenne up to a lofty altitude, all boosting the Porsches off-road credentials. With a maximum ground clearance of 273mm, the Cayenne can handle most obstacles.
The optional off-road package allows the anti-roll bars to be decouple for another 60mm of ride height. Naturally, much of the Cayennes off road ability is due to its rubberwear and youll have to choose carefully in this respect, based on your likely intended blend of uses. Cars destined for regular off road work tend to come specified with chunky all terrain tyres, whilst those destined for mostly tarmac use will probably arrive on your driveway fitted with Pirelli P Zero Rosso rubber. Three models are available to UK buyers, the £34.
350 entry-level 3.2-litre V6, the surprisingly affordable £44,530 Cayenne S and the mighty £68,970 Cayenne Turbo. Although the V6 uses the familiar 3.2-litre engine used in the Volkswagen range, the other two versions both use an all-alloy 4.
5-litre V8 engine developed in-house and, if you were about to ask, no, it isnt a rehashed version of the old 928 lump. The S ekes 335bhp out of this engine, using Porsches VarioCam infinite intake system, but the twin-turbocharged Cayenne Turbo is the real headliner. With a massive 444bhp on tap, this is a car that will hit 60mph in 5.4 seconds and keep going until 165mph.
Whats more astonishing is its handling prowess. The Cayenne Turbo is slightly slower than a Boxster S to 100mph, yet in the hands of an experienced racing driver, both managed identical times around Germanys gruelling Nurburgring northern loop. Make of that what you will. The steering is pleasantly quick witted, giving the driver the impression that the Cayenne is very light on its feet.
This is helped by the air suspension which gives a well-damped feel and an almost roll-free cornering attitude. After even a short drive, its apparent that a sports car developer has been at work on the Cayenne. Unlike its VW cousin, the Touareg, the Cayenne eschews a 50-50 split in drive between the front and rear axle in favour of a more sporting 32-68 ratio. Porsche PSM stability control system is surprisingly lenient, allowing the impish driver to kick the tail end out a few degrees should they feel the need to showboat.
This is a Porsche first and a 4x4 second. Its fair to say the styling has received a mixed reaction. Manifestly a Porsche from the front, the glasshouse looks somewhat shopping hatch from the back whilst the bland rear is perhaps the Cayennes least flattering angle. Oh well, function over form and all that.
Porsche have thankfully resisted the temptation to attempt to cram seven seats into the Cayenne body and as a result the interior is pleasantly spacious with more luggage space than its direct rivals and plenty of leg and headroom for five passengers. The quality of fit and finish is superior to anything Porsche has produced to date, with a beautifully designed, if surprisingly conservative, fascia. With hindsight, its a relief to note that when Porsche set out to build a 4x4, it left none of its corporate values behind. Yes, the company is chasing the big dollar signs, but since when was pursuing a profit some sort of heinous crime? The Cayenne is everything we would have wanted from Porsche and more besides.
The styling is the only question mark and if you can live with this, youll be getting the most sporting 4x4 vehicle around bar none. Whats more, its difficult to see from where a challenger is going to emerge. Until the day a 4x4 with a prancing horse badge appears, the Cayenne looks set to rule the roost.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Porsche Cayenne range
PRICES: £34,350-£68,970 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 18-20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 320-378g/km
PERFORMANCE: [Turbo] 0-60mph 5.4s / Max Speed 165mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Turbo] 12.9(urban) / 23.7(combined) /18mpg(combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, PSM
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4786/1928/1699mm
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