Porsche Cayenne: King of the road and mountain

By Samuel Ee - Mar 03, 2007
The Business Times

It may have the smallest engine in the line-up but the Porsche Cayenne is the fastest out of the showroom.

Four years after Porsche unveiled its super sporty SUV model, a new generation is being launched this weekend.

But even as the Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne S and Cayenne were unveiled, the pre-orders showed that three-quarters were for the Cayenne.

The Cayenne may be the entry model but its attractive combination of badge recognition and value for money make it the most desirable among the three variants.

The new Cayenne retains its V6 engine but this has been uprated from 3.2 litres to 3.6 litres. The larger unit now has 290 hp - up 40 horses - and maximum torque is 385 Nm - up 75Nm.

As a result, the acceleration from zero to 100 kmh takes 1.2 seconds less at 8.5 seconds with the strengthened six-speed Tiptronic S transmission.

Get behind the wheel and the immediate difference is that the Cayenne now has better low-end torque.

The sluggishness of old has been banished, with performance further enhanced by the new Sport button on the lower section of the centre console.

You could call it a 'magic' button because it heightens engine response and delays transmission upshifts for sportier behaviour.

When Sport mode is engaged, the Cayenne's elasticity is super. It surges forward almost instantaneously.

The car's handling also benefits from this new-found enthusiasm and overall, the drive feels much smoother.

The suspension has also been optimised and the ride is slightly less bouncy than before. The standard Cayenne comes with steel suspension but air suspension is optional.

In the new range, Porsche Active Suspension Management or PASM is combined with the brilliant new PDCC feature, or Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control.

PASM and PDCC together cost an extra $22,000 but they should be worth every cent because PDCC's active anti-roll bars keep the Cayenne flat and fast through the corners.

These active anti-roll bars are actually conventional anti-roll bars but with a hydraulic swivel motor in the middle to infinitely control the amount of body roll.

The aim is to keep the Cayenne fully horizontal when going around curves or over bumps and the result is amazing agility and even more dynamic handling.

So unlike other tall SUVs, the Cayenne displays neither sway nor pitch. At high speed, it even feels like a low-slung sports car, except that you sit much higher.

At the same time, permanent all-wheel-drive and low-range gearing also allow it to climb 45-degree gradients and cross water hazards half a metre deep.

The Cayenne may be as big as a house and not quite the greenest statement anyone can make.

But when it comes to exhilarating performance on and offroad, it is still the king of the road. And mountain.

Engine: 3,598cc V6
Gearbox: 6-speed Tiptronic S transmission
Max power: 290 hp @ 6,200 rpm
Max torque: 385 Nm @3,000 rpm
0-100 kmh: 8.5 secs
Top speed: 227 kmh
Price:from $238,888 (with COE)
Distributor: Stuttgart Auto. Tel: 6363-0911

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

One question: this engine is exactly the same one as in the Treg 3.6, right? But they are tuned differently...

^ yea, t-reg's is 10hp less and roughly 10less lb/ft of torque i think.