Snapped... Porsche Cayenne prototypes were caught this week in cold weather testing in Europe by photographers from the Carparazzi agency. Photo Gallery
The car that created the cash for Porsche to buy Volkswagen is heading for a total change.
The Cayenne SUV has been the money machine for Porsche since it was introduced, tapping straight into the worldwide drive for luxury four-wheel drives.
It even funded development of the company's core cars, the 911s, and built the base which has ensured the success of the Boxster and Cayman.
Now it is heading for its first total model change and prototypes were caught this week in cold weather testing in Europe by photographers from the Carparazzi agency.
The pictures show Cayennes which are close to final production specification, pointing to a preview at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October and sales in the first half of 2010.
Details of the Cayenne are still a closely-guarded secret but early rumours that Porsche would go its own way, ending the collaboration with Volkswagen that created the Cayenne and Touareg as twins, is wrong.
Porsche will still use the basic body of the second-generation Touareg but company chief, Wendelin Wiedeking, is committing to getting his car on the road first.
Looking at Volkswagen Group timing, that points to a new Touareg in the second half of 2010 and a replacement for the giant Audi Q7 early in 2011.
The new Cayenne is absolutely vital to Porsche.
"It is the vehicle that provides the cash for us to create the world's best sports cars," says the spokesman for Porsche Cars Australia, Paul Ellis.
"It is the backbone of sales in Australia. Around 40 per cent of our sales are Cayennes."
Production of the original Cayenne has just topped 200,000 cars, with the landmark car running down the production line in Germany last week. It has been built since 2002.
There are currently five Cayenne models, from the basic V6 to the Turbo S, with a diesel-powered car also in the works.
The all-new Cayenne is expected to have a similar lineup but will also be the base for Porsche's first hybrid vehicle.
