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Porsche unveils super Cayenne


"The interest in the V6 has been far higher than any expectations we had," Porsche Cars Australia boss Michael Winkler said at the launch of the second-generation Cayenne.

"I expect V6 sales to be around 30 per cent of all Cayenne sales, or about 150-200 a year."

Despite the importance of the V6 none were available to touch or drive at the Australian model launch last week.

The official word from PCA was that while customer cars were being delivered to dealers, the test fleet meanwhile could not be prepared in time for the launch.

Porsche Australia is also concerned that the strong interest in the V6 will overshadow upgrades to the rest of its range.

"We wanted to demonstrate the upgrades that the new car has compared with the old model and the way to do that is with ... models that everyone is familiar with, rather than risk confusion and turning it into a six-cylinder launch," Winkler says.

For the past couple of years, Porsche Australia has ignored the 3.2-litre V6 model that was available in other markets, concentrating instead on the naturally aspirated and turbocharged V8 models.

"We held off the previous V6 because by the time it became available in right-hand drive it would have been only 18 months from this model," Winkler says. "We felt that would have been the wrong time (to introduce it)."

He believes the availability of the V6 won't diminish the exclusivity of the Porsche brand with annual sales of all models to remain pegged around 1500 cars.

"We are not looking for record sales but are comfortable with stabilising our business where it is — 1200-1500 cars in a market of potentially one million is exclusive."

The V6 Cayenne will sit at the bottom of a three-model range starting at $94,700.

The first of the V8 models, the Cayenne S, is $134,500 with the Turbo topping the range at $215,200. Despite the $94,700 sticker price, nobody at Porsche is expecting the V6 — which is powered by a VW family-sourced 213kW, 3.6-litre engine — to leave the showrooms at anywhere near that price.

"Experience tells us most owners will add accessories to personalise their new cars and with on-road costs, most V6 sales are going to be in the region of $120,000," Winkler says.

The Cayenne's styling has been freshened across the range, with new front and bonnet panels, rear styling and light clusters, and with the engines revised for greater power and better fuel economy — and pricing increased by about 5 per cent.

The Cayenne S is up by $4600 to $134,500 and the Turbo rises by $8100 to $215,200.

A six-speed automatic is standard across the range, with an optional (no cost) six-speed manual available for the V6 and the S.

What the V6 misses out on in standard equipment is considerable — if expected at the price — but almost all of that can be remedied through the options list.

There is no air-suspension but that, along with the clever active suspension system (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control), can be added for a total of $14,240.

The V6 also deletes the 6.5-inch centre console screen and satellite navigation system with the communication package ($7250), multi-function steering wheel ($1180) and a premium Bose CD sound system ($2790). It also runs on 17-inch wheels as standard, while the S and Turbo come with 18-inch rims.

New to all three models in the expanded safety package is a rollover sensor which will deploy the curtain airbags ahead of the accident. Stability control and six airbags are also standard. Work under the bonnet for the V8s is considerable. The S engine has had a capacity increase to 4.8-litres and uses variable valve timing and lift on the intake side, boosting power by 33kW to 283kW and torque by 80Nm to 500Nm. Bolt on a pair of turbos and the 4.8 V8 becomes a very serious weapon indeed — with 368kW and 700Nm of urge just waiting for the call.

While the S returns a claimed combined fuel figure of 13.7L/100km and a 0-100km/h time of 6.8s, the Turbo's ability to put the same sprint behind in a sportscar-like 5.1 seconds comes at a cost. Claimed fuel economy is 14.9L/100km on combined cycle but you won't see those figures if the car is driven in the manner it demands and deserves.

One option that should be compulsory on the shopping list across the range is the rear-view camera, even at a hefty $3590. As with all Porsches worth their badge, it's only behind the wheel that the pain in your wallet eases.

All the test cars at the launch were fitted with the optional Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control system ... with good reason.

As good as the basic Porsche air-suspension is it becomes superb in association with PDCC. Handling here is superb.

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