Recently Porsche released information about its successful Cayenne off-road vehicle. From the outside you can see a subtle redesign on the front, more precisely on the hood, the (larger) optics and the air intakes located on the bumper. Other redesigned elements included rims and rear-view mirrors.
The new versions of the Cayenne will offer even more complete equipment and more powerful engines. The “Cayenne” model will use a V6 drive larger than the previous one, now 3,600 cm3 displacement to deliver a power of 290 hp (40 more than before). This Cayenne accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 227 km/h. This means it accelerates 1 second faster and develops 13 km/h more than the previous version.
The “Cayenne S” version is located in the midpoint of the range, with a V8 engine of 4.800 cm3 and 385 hp (43 more than the original model). With this revamped V8, the Cayenne S accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and achieves a final speed of 252 km/h.
Finally, the “Cayenne Turbo” version uses the same V8 mentioned above but supercharged with two turbos and double intercooler. With these elements, the V8 delivers a power of 500 hp and drives the Cayenne Turbo from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds, while the top speed is 275 km/h.
All new versions of the Cayenne have remarkable reductions in fuel consumption. One of the main reasons for this achievement is the optimized variable distribution system called “VarioCamPlus”.
Another factor common to all Cayenne is permanent all-wheel drive. The transmission has a differential that distributes engine power. Under normal driving conditions, the rear gear has 62 percent of the power. The gearbox is also common for all models, being manual six speeds except for the turbo version with Tiptronic gearbox.
Other equipment available is stability control and bixenon headlights. The Cayenne Turbo stands out for its air suspension system that automatically regulates the hardness of the shock absorbers.
Another interesting fact is that while Porsche does not plan to manufacture a diesel engine for the Cayenne, it would be feasible for them to develop a hybrid model for the relatively near future.
As a modest conclusion, it can be said that this vehicle is a remarkable technological jewel but with a somewhat insane purpose... An SUV over 270 km/h? For what purpose?
© Adrián Blanco 2006 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
