PORSCHE’S controversial Cayenne has proven to be a cash cow for the German car-maker, despite criticism that it failed to meet expectations of a Porsche driving experience. Now it has been updated with more power and torque, improved fuel economy, and styling upgrades that give the car a more aggressive look. An optional system called Dynamic Chassis Control that limits bodyroll using ‘active’ anti-roll bars is also now available. Yet the most significant addition for Australia with the upgraded SUV is a V6 model that drops Porsche pricing below the $100,000 mark and opens up the brand to a new range of customers.
Porsche Cayenne
Released: June 2003
Ended: February 2007
Family Tree: CayenneIT MIGHT have made the purists cringe, and shocked even mildly interested onlookers with its controversial styling, but when the Cayenne arrived in 2003 the big Porsche SUV became an instant hit. The fact of the matter was that it looked like a Porsche, was priced like one, was kitted-out like one, and lived up to expectations as the best on-road SUV in the business. There was no V6. Power for the Cayenne S came from a 250kW/420Nm 4.5-litre V8, while the Turbo added twin turbochargers, twin intercoolers and a lower 9.5:1 compression ratio to produce a whopping 331kW and 620Nm. Both had kerb weights in excess of 2.2 tonnes, but their acceleration was impressive – 0-100km/h was devoured in 7.2 seconds in the S, and just 5.6 seconds for the Turbo.
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