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By
EWAN KENNEDY
15 January 2007
Porsche has gone even further down the high-power path with its
new model Cayenne for 2007. Which should come as no surprise considering
the German sports car maker’s long established reputation as a serious
player in the high-performance scene.
Rivals in the SUV business, Audi, BMW and Mercedes, have either
just introduced, or are about to release, large seven-seat
vehicles, so it makes a lot of sense for Porsche to try to control
of a different niche. One that sees performance take precedence
over all else.
Just shown at the Detroit Motor Show, the revised Cayenne has
had the capacity of its V8 engines increased from 4.5 to 4.8
litres. Direct fuel injection and a new devised variable valve
timing system have seen an 80 Nm leap in top torque to a neat 500
Nm, that’s an extremely impressive gain from a capacity rise of
just 0.3 litres. Power goes all the way up to 283 kW.
In twin-turbo format the latest 4.8-litre V8 develops a huge
700 Nm and 500 horsepower (368 kW) for a mind blowing 275 km/h top
speed and the ability to race to 100 km/h just 5.1 seconds after
leaving the line.
Such is the level of engineering expertise at Porsche that both
engines actually use less fuel to generate this extra output.
Perhaps the biggest news of all is the introduction of a V6
engine for the first time in a Cayenne. The 3.6-litre unit
produces a most impressive 385 Nm and 213 kW. Porsche claims a
zero to 100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds with this engine, which,
incidentally, is mated to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission.
As has happened many times in the past, the new Porsche engine
was developed in conjunction with Volkswagen (after all Dr Porsche
designed the first every VW). In its Porsche format the V6 engine
develops more power and torque than the unit used in the VW
Touareg and Audi Q7.
The Cayenne V6 will be priced at just $94,700 making it far and
away the most affordable Cayenne ever. By way of comparison, the
lowest cost Cayenne prior to this was the 2003 model Cayenne S V8
at $136,900.
This time around the Cayenne S is priced at $134,500 and the
Cayenne Turbo comes in at $215,200. The latter two prices reflect
slight increases over the previous models’.
The Porsche Cayenne has also received a facelift to coincide
with the revised engines. To be honest we find it still looks as
ungainly as ever. We can see why it’s styled the way it is –
to look like a 911 from the waist up – but somehow it doesn’t
work to our eyes. And we have heard quite a few other Porsche
enthusiasts saying much the same thing.
Which is a pity, because it’s such a sensational vehicle
otherwise. Perhaps the second-generation Cayenne, which is
probably only three years, or so, away will strike out in a new
styling theme.
This time around the shape of the Cayenne has been revised
after extensive wind-tunnel work to improve its high-speed
aerodynamics, important in a vehicle that can top out at 275 km/h.
Appearance changes are minimal, but give the Cayenne a more
aggressive look thanks to detail work in the bumper and undertray,
as well as reshaping of the headlights.
The first shipment of the Porsche Cayenne in its new
higher-power format is anticipated to reach Australia midway
through March. Existing owners are already known to be talking to
their dealers to find out when they can get themselves into one.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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