Check out the new Porsche Cayenne. It’s still ugly as heck but at least it’s better. Thing is, Porsche just won’t be able to do away with their SUV since it practically accounts for about half of their profits, so the best way for them to move forward with the car is to improve on it.

Porsche promises that the new model is lighter and more efficient than the older model thanks to a simplified transmission. They’ve taken away the low-range gearbox so there’s no real chance for going offroading in this one. Not that the Cayenne has been at par with the like of Range Rovers in offroading ability.

Aluminum bits in the hood, doors and axles also helped the car keep trim. The car will be powered by a choice of engines including a gasoline V8, a gasoline V6, a diesel V6, a hybrid with a V6 gasoline.

The 4.8L V8 dishing out 395 bhp will be found in the S while a turbocharged version dishing out 493 bhp will be found in the Turbo.

The new Porsche Cayenne might be due for unveiling for a couple of months at the Geneva Motor Show but official details have been leaked out. The Cayenne will still be a four-wheel drive upscale market SUV.

The second-generation version will be featuring three gasoline engines as part of the line-up. The entry-level Cayenne gets a 296 bhp 3.6L V6. Upper on the trim scale is the 395 bhp 4.8L V8 for the Cayenne S. At the top of the range is the 4.8L V8 for the Cayenne Turbo dishing out 493 bhp.

Also planned for select markets is a diesel version. No details on the engine yet but it will most likely be based on the 237 bhp 3L V6 diesel of the old Cayenne Diesel.

The biggest update, however, will probably be the Cayenne Hybrid which will feature a 3.0L supercharged V6 dishing out 328 bhp combined withj a 46 bhp electric motor.

The new Cayenne is said to be lighter and more spacious than the old one. Too damn bad, Porsche would probably not be updating its design language any time soon. The Cayenne still looks butt ugly.

Source: Autocar

Porsche will be making a limited-run Cayenne, called the GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 that gives the mid-size luxury SUV a more aggressive and radical look.

The Design Edition 3 gets a dark metallic-gray paint scheme with black hood and side stripes, complemented by 21-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, and a roof spoiler. This is matched by black leather upholstery for the interior. The interior also sports various other extra features: a 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel, electric-powered adjustable seats, and a premium Bose surround system with 14 speakers.

Of course, the focus is on appearance, so the GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 has the standard GTS power plant—the 4.8-liter V8 mated to a Tiptronic S six-speed transmission. This pushes the vehicle to 405 brake horsepower and a top speed of 156mph.

The Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 can be ordered in May. With the enhanced looks and de luxe interior features, it should be worth the added price tag even without any modifications to the powertrain. It’s already a GTS, anyway.

Source: Autocar

Porsche wouldn’t be as slap-on happy as their “sister” company Audi (with the VW group’s close relations with Porsche). With the much-hyped 6.0L V12 TDI engine slapped on a few Audi vehicles (the R8 and the Q7), news ran abound about whether Porsche will also be using the engine in the Porsche Cayenne. Sadly, it will not be so. We just all have to let go of the thoughts of having the massive engine slapped on to a lighter SUV.

The diesel version of the Cayenne will be launched with a much smaller 3.2L twin-turbo V6 (which is also borrowed from Audi) with main reasons being fuel economy (though the V12 TDI is a sipper, actually), emissions, and all the other reasons they can think of to justify the move. Still the V6 is said to still produce a decent enough 300 horses.

Well, probably the Volkswagen group thought of it as overkill. Quite right too, since a whole lot of cars with different badges sporting one engine doesn’t look too good for their fleet. I just think that Porsche should be making their own engines for their own cars. Where’s the novelty in getting a Porsche when you know deep inside, it’s an Audi.

Aside from the Suzuki Equator, Porsche will also be bringing something overseas with the Cayenne GTS. The GTS is dubbed to be the best performing Cayenne in on-road performance aside from the already-known prowess off-road.

Under the hood is a 405hp 4.8L v8 engine – a development from the V8 found in the GTS’ brother, the Cayenne S. Considered more robust, the engine can be mated to the automatic Tiptronic S or a six-speed manual (a first in a Cayenne V8). The GTS also features better handling courtesy of the powertrain and suspensions with Active Suspension Management.

The Cayenne GTS will hit the market this February and the pricing is pegged at $69,300 (Might say a bargain given the new offerings and the Porsche badge.)

So with the Tesla Roadster, Honda CR-Z and the Toyota FT-HS , going green isn’t really for pencil-necked geeky dorks. Throw in a Porsche hybrid in the mix and yes, you would definitely say that even power needs some finesse to go with the savagery.

This here, to be showcased in this year’s LA motor show is the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. Okay, so you might go “Huh?” with the thought of making a Cayenne a hybrid – an SUV at that and amidst all the failed attempts in creating really green hybrid SUVs and pickup trucks.

While it’s still really in development (to be available by the decade’s end), the Cayenne hybrid is supposed to give it a decent 26 mpg – a number that’s not really green but a lot less obscene than how current SUV just gulp down gas. And fear not of any trimmed down power because of this green turnaround. The towing capacity still remains 7,000 pounds.

The Full-Parallel-Hybrid System developed by Porsche combines the best of two worlds so efficiently that the series-production will consume less than 9 liters/100 km. An equally important point was to maintain Porsche’s typically ambitious standards in terms of vehicle weight and driving dynamics also in the hybrid model.

Source: Porsche