New V6 Cayenne Should Sell for about $60,000
The new Cayenne SUV has been responsible for boosting Porsche sales to record levels as of late, keeping one of the world's last independent automaker's independent.
Both 'S' and 'Turbo' models offer better and best performance, 340 and 450-hp respectively, but there's a void still waiting to be filled. Not anymore, as Porsche has just released plans to introduce a new less powerful Cayenne to world markets later this year.
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| Porsche has announced plans to introduce a new less powerful but more affordable 247-hp V6 powered Cayenne. (Photo: Porsche) |
Adding fuel to the fire, the more modest entry sports a Volkswagen derived 3.2-L V6 capable of 247-hp at 6,000 rpm and 229 lb-ft of torque from between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm. While not as zippy as the S or Turbo, it still manages 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds - respectable for the SUV category but the slowest Porsche since the mid-'70s 924. Its top track tested speed is 214 km/h (133 mph).
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| Porsche and Volkswagen have enjoyed a successful history working together, highlighted resently by the new co-developed Cayenne and Touareg SUVs. (Photo: Volkswagen AG) |
But acceleration and top speed aren't necessarily what makes the base Cayenne competitive with its luxury SUV peers. Like the SUV's more powerful siblings it has been engineered for top-tier handling dynamics both on and off the road, superb braking and high quality construction inside and out.
If you know your Porsche's you'd be right in claiming this as the brand's first ever V6. They've delved into the VW parts bin in years past, pulling the Beetle/411's horizontally opposed 4-cylinder for the mid-engine 914 and Audi inline 4-cylinder for the aforementioned 924/944, so the practice has at least had a successful history. What's more, the Cayenne was co-developed with Volkswagen in the first place, the multinational giant dubbing their version the Touareg.