- The Porsche Cayenne Lineup.

The Porsche Cayenne - The SUV that started it all

How the Porsche Cayenne became the brand's saving grace and started a new trend in the automotive industry.

2y ago
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The automotive industry is rapidly changing. Drivers all around the world are buying more SUVs and Crossovers than other cars thanks to their comfortable ride, practicality, and the number of passengers they can carry. The SUV market is rapidly booming, with statistics that show exponential growth of sales over the last decade. Since 2013, SUV sales rose by 87% globally, while traditional car sales fell 8% according to industry consultant LMC Automotive.

Sports cars, however, have always been meant for a more niche section of the market. They sacrifice practicality and affordability for weight savings, speed, performance, and the best driving experience the driver could have. Unsurprisingly, their sales figures aren't the best, as their high prices and lack of practicality would usually result in a lower amount of sales when compared to conventional cars.

Automotive brands that specialize in selling cars meant for the higher-end of the market usually struggle to turn a profit or even keep afloat in this very competitive industry, as their sales figures are lower compared to conventional car brands. As a result, they look into the SUV market in order to increase sales, as more and more people buy SUVs these days. If executed properly, it would make the brand a fortune. But if done badly, it would cost the company losses so great, that it may cripple the brand altogether.

This is the story of how Porsche saved their brand with their first SUV, the Cayenne.

Changing Times

A Porsche 911 in its 996 generation.

A Porsche 911 in its 996 generation.

The early 2000s saw an increase in sales among SUVs. At that time, more and more people around the world were having children, especially in Western countries such as the United States. Global population had risen from around 4.5 billion people to 6 billion people compared to the 1990s. As a result of more families being started, sales of personal vehicles dropped in favor of people-carrying vehicles such as SUVs and Minivans, as they can carry a family of five effortlessly while leaving lots of space for additional cargo.

Many sports car manufacturers were hit by slow sales, especially higher-end brands such as Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin and Porsche. They were losing money, and executives had to do something quick in order to save their business. Many people around the world don't buy as much personal, two-seat sports cars as usual, because they need a practical vehicle as many have recently started a family, or are planning to start one.

Despite the lack of demand for sports cars, incomes had risen. The average American household income grew from $54,621 in the 1990s to $59,938 in the year 2000 (inflation adjusted to today's inflation rate). Of course, you would expect more people buying high-end sports cars, but remember more children are being born at that time, so a personal high-end sports car won't make the best family car.

The Porsche Cayenne

The first generation Porsche Cayenne.

The first generation Porsche Cayenne.

Porsche had taken note of those changes and adapted to quickly in order to save their brand. They saw how much potential a high-end and sporty SUV from Porsche would have on the market, as more people were starting families and gaining more income. In response, they unveiled the Porsche Cayenne in 2002.

Anticipation from the crowd was mixed, especially from purists. They were cross that Porsche had decided to build a SUV, which was very different from the light, agile and fast two-seat sports cars Porsche would usually make. It was big, heavy, had four doors, and could seat five people. Many people wondered what they were up to, as this move was different from something Porsche would usually do.

However, they did not let their new SUV rest on its brand's laurels. They wanted to make the Cayenne the most agile, nimble, fun to drive but practical and off-road capable SUV on the market. They wanted the Cayenne to feel like a Porsche, rather than just another SUV. The Cayenne had proven itself to live up to its brand's philosophy of being fast and fun, as the car was praised for its excellent handling and powerful engines.

Initially, two variants of the Cayenne were up for sale, the Cayenne and Cayenne S, both powered by V8 engines. It was the first Porsche to be powered by a V8 engine since 1995 after the Porsche 928 got discontinued. It was also Porsche's first off-road capable and road-legal vehicle since the Super and Junior tractors in the 1950s, along with being the first Porsche with four doors.

Variants

The Porsche Cayenne lineup.

The Porsche Cayenne lineup.

The entry-level Cayenne model was powered by a 3.2-liter VR6 engine, producing 247 horsepower, with modifications in the exhaust manifold to allow power to peak at 6,700 rpm. The car was offered with either a manual transmission, or a Porsche Tiptronic S transmission. The manual Cayenne had a 0-100 kph (0-60 mph) time of 7.5 seconds, while the Tiptronic S Cayenne was a tad bit slower at 8.1 seconds.

Placed higher above the Cayenne, the Cayenne S was powered by an 8-cylinder engine with dry-sump lubrication and variable valve timing, producing 335 horsepower and 420 newton-meters of torque. The car had a 0-100 time of 7.1 seconds, faster than its entry-level counterpart, with a top speed of 271 kph or 150 mph.

The Cayenne GTS is also powered by a V8 engine making 400 horsepower, featuring sports suspension and 21-inch wheels. It is lighter than the Cayenne S, and also features an aerodynamic body kit. The GTS goes from 0-100 in 5.7 seconds. It is offered in either a six-speed manual transmission, or the Tiptronic S transmission found in all trims.

The highest spec Porsche Cayenne that you could get was the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S. The Turbo had 450 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-100 in 5.3 seconds. Soon after, Porsche developed a Turbo S model to compete with offerings such as the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 and the BMW X5 M. Powered by a 514 horsepower V8 engine, it went from 0-100 in 5 seconds, with a top speed of 275 kph/175 mph.

The Cayenne also had a diesel variant unveiled in 2009, powered by a V6 Volkswagen TDI engine making 237 horsepower and 550 newton-meters of torque. It could accelerate from 0-100 in 9.2 seconds. It was designed to become the entry-level Cayenne.

Cayenne S Transsyberia

The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia

The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia

As the Cayenne was built with off-road capability in mind, Porsche decided to build a racing variant of it, one that would compete in the Transsyberia rally, spanning 6,600 kilometers from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, crossing the Ural mountains, the sub-arctic forests, the Altai mountains, and through the Gobi desert. Out of the 34 registered teams, 25 raced in Cayenne S Transsyeberia race cars.

The car's engine remained unchanged, still powered by the 4.8-liter V8 producing 385 horsepower, paired to a six-speed Tiptronic S transmission. Some improvements over the standard Cayenne S were reinforced A and B pillars, a bolted down safety cage, a roof mounted snorkel, a front mounted winch, a new electrical system, a lightweight sports exhaust, a handbrake instead of the standard foot operated brake, and a stronger under body with diamond-plate steel flooring.

The Cayenne's Success

The Porsche Cayenne GTS

The Porsche Cayenne GTS

The Cayenne instantly became a sales hit with the crowd selling around 276,000 units throughout its production life, outselling everything in its lineup. The Cayenne had saved Porsche from losing even more money, and even helped them turn a profit once more thanks to its amazing ride quality, smooth and agile handling, powerful engines and unsurpassed off-road capabilities compared to the competition.

Second Generation Cayenne

The second generation Cayenne

The second generation Cayenne

Of course, being Porsche, they won't rest on their laurels. The first generation Cayenne had become a prominent badge in the SUV industry, competing with the best offerings from fellow competitors Mercedes-Benz and BMW. In the year 2010, the Cayenne has been re-ignited to do it all over again.

In the year 2010, during the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche debut the second generation Cayenne. To prepare for the new model, the Cayenne assembly plant in Leipzig, Germany was closed for renovations from December 2009 to around January 2010. The new Cayenne was larger than its predecessor, with a more sloping roof line, headlights inspired by Porsche's halo car at the time, the Carrera GT, a fully-redesigned interior similar to the Panamera's, and LED Daytime Running Lights to give the car a futuristic vibe.

The car also had modifications in its chassis. Thanks to the extensive use of aluminium and magnesium in the car, the car weighed 250 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, making it more fuel efficient than ever before. The car had a lower ride height, but despite that, it still retained its off-road pedigree.

The base model Cayenne was powered by a 3.6-liter VR6 engine producing 296 horsepower, while the higher-end Cayenne S models get the Panamera's 4.8-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower. All models came with Porsche's PDCC anti-roll bar system, adaptive air suspension and Porsche's Active Suspension Management.

The Cayenne Hybrid

The first ever Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

The first ever Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

In 2005, five years before the debut of the new second-generation Cayenne, Porsche announced that they would develop a hybrid variant in order to meet with stricter EU emission standards. In 2007, Porsche had shown off a working prototype based on the first generation Cayenne. It was powered by the base Cayenne's V6 engine, only this time paired up with a 288-volt nickel hydride battery, occupying the space reserved for the spare tyre.

In 2013, Porsche developed a new Cayenne Hybrid to be sold to the public, along with a plug-in hybrid variant to meet with the New European Driving Cycle standard. On electric power alone, it was capable of going as far as from 18 to 36 kilometers. The Cayenne S-E hybrid replaced the regular Cayenne S hybrid in the Cayenne's lineup for the sake of streamlining. It was a first of its kind, a plug-in premium SUV, disrupting the industry once more just like its predecessor which was the first SUV from a sports car brand.

World Record Tow

The 2017 Porsche Cayenne S Diesel towing an Air France Airbus A380.

The 2017 Porsche Cayenne S Diesel towing an Air France Airbus A380.

On the first of May 2017, Porsche had set out to do the unthinkable, to tow the largest passenger jet in the world, the Airbus A380, with a Cayenne S Diesel. Its sibling, the Volkswagen Touareg had towed a Boeing 747 before it. In order to beat that record, Porsche decided to tow a fully-loaded A380 instead, a classic case of sibling rivalry.

The world record was set by a Nissan Patrol that towed a 170-ton Ilyushin IL-76 cargo jet to a distance of 50 meters. However, the Airbus A380 dwarfs the IL-76 in terms of mass, weighing in at 285 tons without interior configurations. The Cayenne managed to tow the A380 to a distance of 42 meters. It may be less than how far the Patrol did, but considering the A380 is 105 tons heavier than the IL-76, it was a massive feat, securing a spot in the book of Guinness World Records.

After the attempt, Porsche had decided to tow the A380 once more, this time with a Cayenne Turbo S with 800 Nm of torque, 50 Nm less than the Cayenne S Diesel in order to prove the Cayenne's unparalleled reliability.

The Third Generation Cayenne

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne

In 2017, during the Frankfurt Auto SHow, Porsche unveiled the third generation Cayenne, based on Volkswagen's MQB platform, which is also shared with other SUVs in the Volkswagen Auto Group such as the Volkswagen Touareg, the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, and the Audi Q7. The new Cayenne featured a new redesigned interior with a larger touch screen, an all-touch feedback center console, and a new lineup of engines shared with Audi.

The new Cayenne came in the same old variants just like its predecessor. The base Cayenne, producing 335 horsepower, the Cayenne E-Hybrid, the Cayenne S, the Cayenne Turbo, and the top of the line Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, producing 671 horsepower.

However, spy shots of a new Cayenne Coupe had surfaced not too long ago. Who knows what the new car would bring to the automotive industry...

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Comments (5)

  • Not so sure but I reckon that the breed starter was the BMW X5

      2 years ago
    • I would say so as well, since development of the X5 started in the 90's.

        2 years ago
  • Looking great what is the towing capacity of this suv? can we use that for Motorcycle Towing Service for ritewaytowingnyc.com/

      2 years ago
  • Great article! I'm not sure it was the Cayenne necessarily but it was a game changer for sure!

      2 years ago
  • I had completely forgotten about the record the Cayenne holds

      2 years ago
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