New Cayenne, new era for Porsche

It may have taken six years but Porsche has finally answered its critics with its new, second-generation Cayenne 4WD.

While the original model released in 2004 was regarded as being too big, too heavy and too thirsty for a vehicle wearing the proud Porsche badge, the German car maker has moved to address those concerns with a lighter, more agile and more fuel efficient Cayenne range.

It is an important development for the car maker famous for sports cars -- half of Porsche's volume now comes from its 4WD sales.

And indeed, three of the five models revealed in Geneva have an average fuel consumption rating of less than 10L/100km.

A hybrid version of the Porsche Cayenne will spearhead the line-up of the new model when it goes on sale in Australia in the second half of the year. It is Porsche's first mass produced hybrid vehicle.

It will be joined by the V8 and the flagship twin-turbo V8 at initial launch, while the V6 petrol and V6 diesel variants are due to follow a few months later.

Porsche is rightly proud of the new Cayenne range. Fuel consumption has been cut by 23 per cent on some models -- while a massive 180kg to 208kg has been slashed from the body (the reduction varies depending on the model).

The body's overall dimensions have grown slightly for better interior comfort and increased luggage space, but its more organic design means it looks smaller than its predecessor.

Despite the larger body, the Cayenne has lost a significant amount of weight, an amazing double act.

The weight savings should equate to sharper driving dynamics. The previous Cayenne wasn't a slouch, but it was heavier than some of its contemporaries. Industry observers are keen to see what Porsche has done with the new, lighter version.

While some industry observers believe the second generation Cayenne is the vehicle that Porsche should have built in the first place, the original model has been described by some insiders as "the Cayenne we had to have".

In other words, everything that Porsche has learned by building the original, it has put into the new model.

Technology highlights start with the new engines.

The hybrid Cayenne is powered by a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and a 34kW electric motor to give a combined output of 279kW and 580Nm. The consumption rating is quoted as 8.2L/100km, which is higher than the world's biggest selling hybrid luxury softroader, the RX450h, which has a rating of 6.4L/100km. However, real world testing has shown the Lexus figure is optimistic and the vehicle returns closer to 9L/100km.

The Cayenne's 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine (224kW) is an all-new Porsche design. When equipped with an optional eight-speed automatic transmission its consumption average is 9.9L/100km -- the same consumption of the current model Toyota Camry when it was launched four years ago -- and a 20 per cent reduction on the current Cayenne V6.

The 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 (179kW and 550Nm) has also cut fuel consumption by 20 per cent, to a small-car-like 7.4L/100km instead of 9.3L/100km.

It's the 4.8-litre V8 engines in the Cayenne, however, that have made the biggest reduction in consumption -- 23 per cent.

The regular V8 in the Cayenne S has a fuel consumption rating of just 10.5L/100km -- or about the same as a Ford Falcon six-cylinder sedan -- while the twin turbo V8 in the Cayenne Turbo has a rating of just 11.5L/100km.

In addition to the eight-speed transmission, one of the keys to the reduction in V8 consumption is that the Porsche engines have been programmed to shut down when coasting at freeway speeds.

Meanwhile, Porsche says the hybrid Cayenne can be driven a "few" kilometres on its battery power alone. As with the Lexus, the Cayenne hybrid can move from rest using its electric motor before the petrol engine cuts in at about 60km/h.

The Cayenne also debuts a new four-wheel-drive system for better wet road grip and off-road traction. Power is transmitted to the front wheels as required via "an electronically controlled, map-based multiple-plate clutch". We're not sure what this means, but we think it means it automatically sends the power to the front wheels when they need it.

For the first time on the Cayenne, Porsche will offer as an option its "torque vectoring" technology. Currently on the new 911 Turbo, the torque vectoring system reduces understeer and creates more agile handling by changing in milliseconds the torque distribution to each rear wheel, as well as activating the electronically controlled diff lock.

It sounds complicated but, on the 911 Turbo at least, it just feels like a giant hand has guided the car through a corner. If you're going too fast in a bend, the car's stability control and torque vectoring systems ensure you make it through the other side safely.

Porsche hasn't specified exactly where all the weight savings have come from but it did say that 33kg alone was trimmed from the chassis thanks to the widespread use of aluminium.

All versions of the Cayenne will come standard with steel suspension except the Turbo version which has a revised air suspension set up as standard. Air suspension will likely be an option on the other models.

Other technology highlights include blindspot warning system and radar cruise control, features which will likely eventually be added to the Panamera and 911 range.

Despite a new model waiting in the wings, the current model Cayenne is still selling relatively well in Australia, with sales up 32 per cent in the first two months off 2010 compared with the same period last year.

However, Porsche Australia is scaling back stock of the current Cayenne now that the new model has been revealed, and has begun taking orders for the new model, due in the second half of 2010.

Prices are yet to be announced but the current range stretches from $102,500 to $281,400 before registration and dealer charges are added.

The hybrid Cayenne is likely to fill the price gap between the $103,700 diesel and the $146,900 V8.

Key to pics: Cayenne base -- silver; Cayenne diesel -- blue; Cayenne S -- gold; Cayenne Turbo -- grey; Cayenne Hybrid -- white; cutaway -- Hybrid; interior -- base.

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