Though critics have knocked the fact that the sporty posh car maker has been dabbling in SUVs, they may close their lips after seeing the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne.
One of the most noticeable changes is the drive. In earlier models, the critics were right, Porsche's SUVs were heavy and didn't have the smooth drive that Porsche owners covet. But they have learned a lot since their first trial in 2003, and have even gone leaps and bounds from last year's model.
The base model Porsche Cayenne though is powered by a VR6 derived engine, which is the same unit that powers the above mentioned VW Touareg as well as the Volkswagen Golf R32. It produces around 250 horse power which is good enough the get the rather large and heavy Porsche Cayenne from rest to 100 kph (62 mph) in around 7.5 seconds.
However, as Porsche are not necessarily known for their slow cars, there are other options available. The next step up is the Porsche Cayenne S. This version has a V8 engine delivering 340 horse power. This decreases the sprint time from the above 7.5 seconds to a more respectable 6.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.
After that there is the Porsche Cayenne GTS which houses a 4.8 litre V8 engine which produces 405 horse power. The sprint time consequently drops again to now below 6 seconds at 5.7 seconds.
Filed under: Porsche | suv | Porsche Cayenne | luxury cars