| It wasn't that many years ago that Porsche | | | | So what's it cost you ask? Well the |
| was strictly about sportsters and roadsters. | | | | turbocharged version can be purchased for |
| But no more! Today Porsche produces a product | | | | around $90,000. It's priced competitively |
| line for everyone and that includes the SUV | | | | against the competition which includes the |
| Porsche Cayenne. | | | | Land Rover, Mercedes Benz M Class, and Range |
| | | | Rover. |
| The SUV isn't that new. It was actually | | | | |
| introduced back in 2002. The V8 was new to | | | | The Cayenne has a low profile tire that gives |
| the Porsche line with the last V8 being | | | | it a much sportier ride that you might expect |
| produced in the 928 back in 1995. It | | | | to be not so good in serious off road |
| instantly became Porsche's best seller in | | | | conditions. But it's actually the opposite. |
| North America. | | | | These tires are very impressive in off road |
| | | | conditions. |
| So what has made it such a great hit? It was | | | | |
| co-designed with the VW team who were also | | | | 4 wheel drive with manual lockable center |
| planning to add a SUV to their line up. The | | | | differential are standard equipment. You also |
| cost sharing strategy was supposed to help | | | | get a low range setting. There are some |
| both companies. | | | | terrific off road options too which include |
| | | | air suspension, interior switching rear |
| The chassis is actually shared by three | | | | differential, and vehicle height adjustment. |
| companies. VW uses it in the Touareg sport | | | | |
| utility, Porsche in their Cayenne, and Audi | | | | In 2006 Porsche introduced the Turbo S which |
| uses a modified version its Q7. | | | | is a higher output model. It was designed to |
| | | | compete with the Mercedes Benz ML63. You get |
| When it comes to the engines VW and Porsche | | | | a whopping 520 HP making it the second most |
| share only a base engine. The Porsche engine | | | | powerful Porsche ever built. O-60 in 4.8 |
| has had substantial modifications. The | | | | seconds. So is that fast enough? |
| Cayenne offers up four great engine choices. | | | | |
| | | | The Porsche die-hards that like the |
| The 247 HP 3.2 L engine, the 335 HP 4.5 L | | | | traditional reputation of the Porsche line |
| engine, the twin turbo charged 450 HP 4.5 L | | | | which stands for sporty cars that are |
| engine, the Tequipment twin turbocharged V8 | | | | designed for speed, comfort, fun, and the |
| 500 HP 4.5 L engine, and finally the twin | | | | race track, aren't happy with the |
| turbocharged V8 520 HP 4.5 L engine. That's a | | | | introduction of the Cayenne. |
| lot of power in an SUV. | | | | |
| | | | Porsche however is in the business to make |
| You get 0 to 60 in about 5.2 seconds which is | | | | money and recognized that an SUV could |
| the same time as the Boxster S and the | | | | provide them with a steady income and |
| Tequipment engine is even quicker. Of course | | | | continuous sales that the fickle sports car |
| you realize there is no real good reason for | | | | market could not and thus they added the |
| that kind of speed in an SUV but it sure is | | | | Cayenne to their product line. |
| fun having it anyway! | | | | |
| | | | If you are in the market for an SUV and want |
| This is a true SUV and thus it is designed to | | | | the quality and reliability that Porsche is |
| take you where ever you need to go whether | | | | known around the world for, you should |
| that is up the rocky mountain or across a | | | | consider the Porsche Cayenne. It's got a lot |
| deep river. | | | | to offer for the price. |
| | | | |