It seems every luxury car manufacturer is getting in on the luxury SUV trend. Tesla has the Model X, BMW offers the X5, Masarati has the Levante, Mercedes-Benz the GLE and Lamborghini has the Urus due out this fall. Now Porsche is joining the fray with the Cayenne, the Cayenne Platinum Edition and the CayenneTurbo S.
The Cayenne, presumably named for the hot chili pepper, comes in standard black or white exterior colors, seven metallic colors and two special colors, red and grey. It has a 3.6 litre engine with three hundred horsepower. The brakes are six piston aluminum monobloc calipers in front with four pistons in the back. It has all wheel drive, a monitor for tire pressure and Porsche Connect Plus, a computerized navigational module. The Cayenne boasts a top speed of 142 mph and acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Using direct fuel injection the Cayenne has surprisingly good gas mileage with 19 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
The luxurious leather interior seats five passengers comfortably with access to ten inch touchscreen displays with DVD capabilities, two USB ports, a SD card slot and 32 gigabyte internal memory. Backseat riders can also access the Web and check e-mail. The Cayenne has a base price of $60,000.
The Platinum Edition, starting at $66,700, offers an eight speed Tiptronic S automatic shift that adjusts to the driver’s driving style with Porsche Active Suspension Management that keeps the car level at all times as well as adjustable ground clearance making it easier to load cargo and run off road over rocks and streams. A simple rocker switch on the center console controls the PASM that also includes an electronic dampening system. The Platinum Edition also has PDCC, an anti-roll system that makes high speed cornering easier and reduces vibration on bumpy roads. Driving modes are Off Road Mode 1 which includes ABS, Off Road Mode 2 provides extra traction for difficult terrain by locking the multi plate clutch. A Sport Chrono Package is available with a stopwatch and a performance display.
The seats have eight way adjustments, lumbar support and have the ability to store different seat adjustments and remember mirror positions.
There is plenty of storage with door storage and built-in cup holders, storage in the rear on the backrests of the front seats and drawers under the front seats.
A radar system senses slower moving vehicles ahead and slows the vehicle accordingly. Cameras assist in maneuvering, parking and backing.
The Cayenne Turbo S sports a 3.6 litre V6 420 hp engine. It also has the 8 speed Tiptroniclike the other models and Porsche Traction Management with the multi plate clutch and engine torque that focuses on the front wheels for stability in cornering. According to Car and Driver “It took Porsche 53 years to sell a million 911s. Porsche has sold 770,000 Cayennes in the 15 years since it was launched in 2002, and the millionth will probably be built in about three years. As much as we love and cherish the sports cars from Stuttgart, Porsche in the 21st century is the house that the Cayenne SUV built.”
Read another story from us: Lamborghini Urus coming this spring (2018)
The exterior is typically Porsche with a sloping bonnet, large grille and recessed Bi-Xenon headlights. Additionally, there is ambient lighting for the interior along with reading lights for back seat passengers. Starting at $119,150 its hefty price tag will keep it out of the ballpark for many especially with the high cost of extras that some believe should be included with the base price.