Of course, like the VW engines Porsche used in the past, the new V6 will hardly be stock. Stuttgart massaged it to develop additional output, plus the luxury automaker will add such driving enhancements as Porsche Traction Management permanent four-wheel drive and Porsche Stability Management (PSM), as well as the optional air suspension already available across the Cayenne lineup.
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| Although borrowed from Volkswagen, the new Cayenne's V6 engine will hardly be stock. (Photo: Porsche) |
What's important to note is that the base Cayenne will hardly be base, offering the same high level of standard appointments as the S. Only the drivetrain will be different, and the badge attached to the rear liftgate.
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| 'Base' is a relative term, and the new Cayenne will offer the same high level of standard appointments as the S version. (Photo: Porsche) |
And the price? Only USD$44,580; Canadian prices have yet to be announced. Expect a significant savings from the $78,250 Cayenne S base price, possibly less than the U.S. price factored through the current exchange rate that results at just over $62,000.
While not all industry insiders believe that the introduction of a V6 model is in Porsche's best long term interest, possibly diluting the brand image in order to up short term profits, there's little doubt it will increase production to the Leipzig plant's 40,000 unit capacity, which will be no bad thing for Porsche during the current global recession.
The base Cayenne, that will simply be called Cayenne, will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week just prior to going on sale in Europe. It will arrive in North America shortly thereafter.