The German-built Porsche 911 sports car has been ironing out the world's pavement for more than 40 years. With that, one would guess it to be the brand's top selling vehicle. Not so.
Enter the Porsche Cayenne SUV. Since its debut in 2003, Cayenne has outsold the legendary 911 by nearly 25 percent with over 150,000 purchased units -- more than double the anticipated number.
For 2008, the second-generation Porsche Cayenne gets a dash of refreshed design that steps further away from the previous 911-styling cues to give Cayenne a look all its own, with slimmer swept-back headlamps and a newly-styled lower front fascia. Bulging wheel arches and a revised rear valance give Cayenne's body a muscular accent.
Inside, five occupants are treated to a cabin outfitted with leather upholstery and satin nickel accents. Seats offer firm support for long distance driving with ample leg and headroom.
But the most important chapter of the Cayenne story is under the hood.
Porsche Cayenne comes with a potent 3.6-liter V-6 engine coupled to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission that generates 290 horsepower while delivering fuel economy, based on the new EPA methods for 2008 vehicles, of 14 miles per gallon around town and 20 mpg on the highway.
The mid-level Cayenne S comes loaded with a 4.8-liter V-8 and automatic only transmission that develops 385 horsepower, while the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo model produces a whopping 500 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque from the same engine.
Porsche showcased its latest Cayenne trio to the automotive press last month at Continental Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas, where we exercised the models in a Pentathlon competition.
Highlighting the event was a Baja-style rally cross, a drag race to 100 mph, a 200-yard slalom, a twisty wet test-track and a high-speed serpentine road course.
Porsche's wet road test was a testament to Cayenne's standard all-wheel drive prowess as the SUV pasted the water-soaked track with absolute competence. Standard anti-lock brakes, traction control and antiskid system with rollover sensors made the fast-paced exercise safe and controlled.
Turbo models infused with supercar horsepower found a 0 to 100 mph time within the low 12-second range. Turbos come with a specifically tuned suspension and larger brakes to help bring the beast to a smooth stop.
The spirited competition of the rally cross, road course and slalom helped to demonstrate Cayenne's Dynamic Chassis Control which constantly monitors the front and rear anti-roll bars that virtually eliminates body roll through S-curve and twisty maneuvers.
Standard on all models is a "Sport Button" that modifies the engine, transmission and suspension settings for high performance driving.
To punctuate that point, a professional driver unleashed a 5,191-pound Cayenne Turbo loaded with three helmet-donned journalists for a two-lap blast around Continental's eight-mile oval track. We reached a top-speed of 161 mph.
The 2008 Porsche Cayenne SUV is off-road capable with an optional air suspension that clears more than 10.5 inches of back road debris. Cayenne's V-6 model clears 8.6-inches and crosses the bottom line at $43,400.
