A manufacturer of sports cars with the emphasis on sports, Porsche has made sure that this outstanding performance goes together directly with an equally supreme standard of sporting and agile handling, excellent driving dynamics and, not least, superior safety reserves. Indeed, precisely these are the decisive criteria in the creation of sports cars at Porsche’s Research and Development Centre in Weissach. Now, introducing the new Cayenne, Porsche is carrying over this philosophy into the segment of Sports Utility Vehicles, without in any way neglecting the demand for outstanding offroad capability. Various highlights in technology making their world debut in the Cayenne therefore ensure an optimum blend of supreme onroad and equally outstanding offroad driving qualities.

Cayenne Turbo

Under the bonnet, eight cylinders work with two exhaust gas turbochargers complete with intercoolers to provide 331 kW (450 bhp) of power. The Turbo sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and has a top speed of 266 km/h. Dynamic drive force distribution and excellent throttle response can be experienced at all engine speeds. The enormous maximum torque of 620 Nm at engine speeds of between 2,250 rpm and 4,750 rpm speaks for itself.

The standard equipment for the Cayenne Turbo includes, in addition to the new six-speed Tiptronic transmission, pneumatic suspension with a self-levelling feature and height adjustment. The pneumatic suspension not only guarantees extra ground clearance on rough terrain and, thanks to self-levelling, a consistent vehicle position regardless of the load it is carrying, but also ensures maximum driving pleasure and enhanced active safety by automatically lowering the vehicle relative to increasing road speed. Incorporating six different ride height levels, the pneumatic suspension adjusts over a range of 116 mm. Also included as standard is the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), a brand-new variable damping system which is offered in combination with the pneumatic suspension. This electronically variable damping system continually adjusts damper forces relative to surface conditions and driving style.

Porsche Traction Management

One of these highlights is Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanent four-wheel drive featured as standard, feeding 62 per cent of the engine power to the rear and 38 per cent to the front wheels in the basic mode. A multiple-plate clutch operated by an electric motor and controlled electronically is then able to vary the distribution of power according to specific driving conditions, whenever necessary feeding up to 100 per cent of the engine torque either to the front or to the rear.

Porsche Traction Management may rightly be regarded as an all-new generation of four-wheel drive with a decisive impact on the Cayenne’s driving dynamics in every respect. The map-controlled longitudinal differential lock and the rear axle differential available as an option not only respond to any lack of traction on the front or rear wheels, but also incorporate sensors measuring, say, the speed of the vehicle, its lateral acceleration, the steering angle and operation of the gas pedal, PTM thus calculating the optimum locking action on both axles and spreading out drive forces as required to the front and rear wheels. You might therefore compare PTM with a forward-looking, anticipative active electronic control system providing exactly the right balance for superior driving stability and, say, supreme safety in changing lanes both at high speeds and when driving at a moderate pace on ice and snow.

Pneumatic suspension

Pneumatic suspension not only guarantees extra ground clearance on rough terrain and, thanks to self-levelling, a consistent position of the vehicle regardless of the load it is carrying, but also ensures maximum driving pleasure and active safety by automatically lowering the Cayenne as a function of increasing road speed.

Incorporating six different ride height levels, the pneumatic suspension adjusts over a wide range of 116 mm or 4.57

Porsche offers pneumatic suspension in combination with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), a brand-new variable damping system. Operated electronically, PASM adjusts damper forces infinitely as a function of surface conditions and the driver’s style of motoring. A typical example of PASM intervention is when driving very dynamically with powerful application of the gas and/or brake pedal or when driving on particularly rough terrain, where PASM serves to steady any sway and dive motion of the body. This function is ensured by five accelerometers monitoring body movement. As soon as the motion of the Cayenne’s body exceeds a certain limit depending on specific driving conditions, PASM will intervene, stabilising the vehicle by acting on the individual dampers.

PASM also gives the Cayenne driver the opportunity to choose his very own, personal damper setting while driving – with a choice of Comfort, Normal and Sports positions. Consistently operating in the background, PASM always maintains its active control function, comparing the driver’s style of motoring with the program currently in use. Whenever the driver has chosen a particularly comfortable damper setting but is driving in a more sporting and dynamic style, the system automatically switches over to the sports mode and makes the dampers firmer.