Porsche Cayenne Gets Update and New Options for 2005

New Options Are Especially Expensive for Canadians

So far 2004 has been a banner year for Porsche, in sales, profits and new product releases. The independent German automaker

More options for the '05 Cayenne will keep deep-pocketed customers interested despite new performance SUVs coming to market. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America)

is praised the world over for building the most reliable yet exciting sports cars available, has redesigned both the venerable 911 and the upstart Boxster two-seat roadster for the 2005 model year.

Both cars have been reworked to incorporate performance enhancing technologies, higher-grade materials to raise interior fit and finish, comfort and reliability, while their styling has been updated in order to strengthen their identities, or more precisely their inherent Porsche DNA.

But among the upgrades, Zuffenhausen hasn't completely forgotten about its breadwinning sport utility vehicle either. The VW Touareg-based SUV will be improved to ward off potential threats from a new generation of BMW, Cadillac, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen

Porsche adds a cool/hot new panoramic glass roof, depending on the time of year, which measures a gigantic 1.5 m2. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America)

and Audi (the Q7 will share architectures with the Porsche and VW SUV), Porsche will up power, luxury and convenience.

One of the new options that highlight the 2005 model year change is a variable panoramic glass roof. Earlier this year sightings of a Cayenne with unusual roof panels lapping the Nurburgring circuit were reported by spy photographers, and now the new feature is official. Although it's not an actual Targa-roof as some originally predicted, the large-format sliding roof serves a similar purpose, to provide an airy, open-like driving experience without chopping off the top - not ideal for structural rigidity. Remarkably, the new roof is almost four times larger than the Cayenne's conventional sunroof, encompassing a total area of 1.4 square meters (15 square feet).