mercedes
03-07-2002, 07:19 AM
Porsche has released the first photos of its controversial Cayenne sport utility vehicle and finally put to rest the seemingly endless parade of spy photos. Porsche elected to give the public a sneak preview of the Cayenne vicariously through these photos before the actual in-the-metal introduction at the Paris Auto Show later this year in September.
What\'s relevant here to Volkswagen enthusiasts is that the Cayenne shares the same basic platform and dimensions as the forthcoming Volkswagen SUV - called the Touareg - giving us a glimpse of what we can expect. Porsche and Volkswagen jointly developed their SUV projects together to help defray development costs and pool resources. The Touareg (to be introduced later this year), utilizes the same basic platform and AWD system as the Cayenne, but will have its own distinct styling and sheetmetal. Although deceiving at first look, the Cayenne is larger than photos would suggest: 75.9 inches wide and 66.9 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 112.4 inches. The overall length of the Cayenne Turbo is 188.43 inches. Compared to the BMW X5 4.6is the Cayenne sits 4 inches longer, 2 inches wider, with a wheelbase 1.5 inches longer and a mere quarter inch difference in height.
The Cayenne and Touareg are a completely new sheet of paper for Porsche and Volkswagen with no ties to any current platforms. The all-wheel-drive system is also all-new as both companies wanted a vehicle that is as capable off-road as it is on the road. The fully electronic AWD system utilizes electronically controlled differentials that can be programmed to respond to both pre-mapped preferences (say a 30/70 front to rear wheel drive bias) and to varying conditions of both slip and driver demands. For instance if full throttle is applied from a stop, the system will use actual throttle measurement to apply more torque to the rear wheels in anticipation of front slip (as opposed to a system that must detect slip first before diverting power or locking differentials). The system will still detect slip though and divert more power to the wheels that need it most. The system employs an inter-axle differential lock and also has a true low-range gear set for those demanding conditions that warrant it. Towing capacity is 7,716 lbs.
The AWD system in the Porsche will reportedly be set with more rear power bias than in the Volkswagen application to give it more traditional Porsche handling and power characteristics. However, the Volkswagen application will reportedly be more suited to hard-core off-road usage due to different programming of the AWD system electronics and its more neutral handling characteristics. Both models will be highly capable off-roaders according to engineers from VW and Porsche as they benchmarked the Touareg and Cayenne against all major competitors available including Jeep, Mercedes, BMW, GMC and others.
Automatic transmissions on both vehicles are six-speed Tiptronic providing optimum transmission ratios for both performance and economy. Powertrains will be different for each vehicle. The Porsche Cayenne S will utilize a 4.5-liter, normally aspirated V8 rated at 340hp and 310 lbs-ft of torque and the Cayenne Turbo will be powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the same 4.5l V-8 producing 450hp and 457 lbs-ft. of torque. Porsche quotes a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 5.6 seconds for the Cayenne Turbo and 7.2 seconds for the normally aspirated Cayenne S.
The Touareg will likely be powered by a 240hp 3.2l VR6 and a 300+hp 4.2l Audi V8 mated to the same six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. A W12 and V10 TDI are still reportedly planned for the Touareg, but final decisions will depend on the market and diesel fuel issues. Porsche will also reportedly utilize the 3.2l V6 in Europe and may offer it here as well as a base Cayenne application after initial introduction. Neither vehicle will offer a manual six-speed transmission here in North America.
Porsche plans to produce 25,000 Cayennes during the first full year of production, 70% of which will be for export. We expect Porsche will have no problem selling every one of them even amidst the controversy among the Porsche faithful. Final pricing has not been set, but expect the Cayenne to start around $65,000. The Touareg should start in the mid-thirty thousand dollar range when it is finally introduced here in North America next January.
For more information about the Cayenne, you can visit http://www.porschecayenne.com
_________________
It\'s not a question of if I will own a Porsche, it\'s a question of when and how many!
<img src=\"http://wnealis.pageout.net/user/www/w/n/wnealis/sigft1.jpg\">
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Nellis on 2002-03-07 00:25 ]</font>
What\'s relevant here to Volkswagen enthusiasts is that the Cayenne shares the same basic platform and dimensions as the forthcoming Volkswagen SUV - called the Touareg - giving us a glimpse of what we can expect. Porsche and Volkswagen jointly developed their SUV projects together to help defray development costs and pool resources. The Touareg (to be introduced later this year), utilizes the same basic platform and AWD system as the Cayenne, but will have its own distinct styling and sheetmetal. Although deceiving at first look, the Cayenne is larger than photos would suggest: 75.9 inches wide and 66.9 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 112.4 inches. The overall length of the Cayenne Turbo is 188.43 inches. Compared to the BMW X5 4.6is the Cayenne sits 4 inches longer, 2 inches wider, with a wheelbase 1.5 inches longer and a mere quarter inch difference in height.
The Cayenne and Touareg are a completely new sheet of paper for Porsche and Volkswagen with no ties to any current platforms. The all-wheel-drive system is also all-new as both companies wanted a vehicle that is as capable off-road as it is on the road. The fully electronic AWD system utilizes electronically controlled differentials that can be programmed to respond to both pre-mapped preferences (say a 30/70 front to rear wheel drive bias) and to varying conditions of both slip and driver demands. For instance if full throttle is applied from a stop, the system will use actual throttle measurement to apply more torque to the rear wheels in anticipation of front slip (as opposed to a system that must detect slip first before diverting power or locking differentials). The system will still detect slip though and divert more power to the wheels that need it most. The system employs an inter-axle differential lock and also has a true low-range gear set for those demanding conditions that warrant it. Towing capacity is 7,716 lbs.
The AWD system in the Porsche will reportedly be set with more rear power bias than in the Volkswagen application to give it more traditional Porsche handling and power characteristics. However, the Volkswagen application will reportedly be more suited to hard-core off-road usage due to different programming of the AWD system electronics and its more neutral handling characteristics. Both models will be highly capable off-roaders according to engineers from VW and Porsche as they benchmarked the Touareg and Cayenne against all major competitors available including Jeep, Mercedes, BMW, GMC and others.
Automatic transmissions on both vehicles are six-speed Tiptronic providing optimum transmission ratios for both performance and economy. Powertrains will be different for each vehicle. The Porsche Cayenne S will utilize a 4.5-liter, normally aspirated V8 rated at 340hp and 310 lbs-ft of torque and the Cayenne Turbo will be powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the same 4.5l V-8 producing 450hp and 457 lbs-ft. of torque. Porsche quotes a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 5.6 seconds for the Cayenne Turbo and 7.2 seconds for the normally aspirated Cayenne S.
The Touareg will likely be powered by a 240hp 3.2l VR6 and a 300+hp 4.2l Audi V8 mated to the same six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. A W12 and V10 TDI are still reportedly planned for the Touareg, but final decisions will depend on the market and diesel fuel issues. Porsche will also reportedly utilize the 3.2l V6 in Europe and may offer it here as well as a base Cayenne application after initial introduction. Neither vehicle will offer a manual six-speed transmission here in North America.
Porsche plans to produce 25,000 Cayennes during the first full year of production, 70% of which will be for export. We expect Porsche will have no problem selling every one of them even amidst the controversy among the Porsche faithful. Final pricing has not been set, but expect the Cayenne to start around $65,000. The Touareg should start in the mid-thirty thousand dollar range when it is finally introduced here in North America next January.
For more information about the Cayenne, you can visit http://www.porschecayenne.com
_________________
It\'s not a question of if I will own a Porsche, it\'s a question of when and how many!
<img src=\"http://wnealis.pageout.net/user/www/w/n/wnealis/sigft1.jpg\">
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Nellis on 2002-03-07 00:25 ]</font>