And yet 20 years ago, it did indeed happen – and it was a triumph. The Porsche legend was successfully transferred to a completely new market segment. A confident off-roader, luxurious travel companion and at the same time a highly emotive sports car – the Cayenne’s recipe for success is the same today.
With entrepreneurial foresight, typical Porsche attention to detail and the highest quality standards, the sports car manufacturer embarked on the project, code-named ‘Colorado’, at the tail end of the 1990s. In order to meet the brand’s exacting performance standards in the SUV segment as well, engineers developed a new V8 engine for the Cayenne that would deliver maximum power and torque figures: in the Cayenne S, the 4.5-liter engine produced 340 hp and 310 lb-ft. With the same displacement, the Cayenne Turbo served up an even more impressive 444 hp and 457 lb-ft. The result was sports-car-level performance characteristics such as top speeds of 150 and 165 mph, respectively. Special features of the four-valve engine included VarioCam technology, which allowed 25 degrees of camshaft adjustment, and the integrated dry-sump lubrication, which ensured adequate lubrication of all engine components even under conditions of high and extended lateral acceleration.
From the ground up, the V8 engine was designed to enable all components to handle even more extreme stresses with ease. And this was just as well as, four years after the Cayenne’s debut, the ante was upped yet again for the Hemmingen-developed model line. The year 2006 saw the launch of the Cayenne Turbo S, which became the second most powerful road-approved Porsche at the time, behind only the Carrera GT super sports car.
Top-of-the-line Turbo S boasts 514 hp
Outwardly, the new flagship model had a reserved appearance – only the lettering betrayed its enormous performance potential. The V8 delivered a majestic 514 hp in the Turbo S, and, at 530 lb-ft, its peak torque was almost 75 lb-ft more than that of the Turbo. In terms of driving dynamics, the Cayenne Turbo S set new standards for the segment. The 5,192-lb SUV hit 100 kmh (62 mph) in just 5.2 seconds, almost half a second faster than the Turbo, on its way to a maximum speed of 168 mph.
The increase in power and torque came about primarily through a revision of the two charge air coolers. They now cooled the compressed air even more effectively, not least because the heat exchangers were now made entirely of aluminium and were 13 millimeters bigger. This enabled a 0.2- to 1.9-bar jump in boost pressure, depending on engine speed, which boosted the engine’s power output in turn.
It speaks for the farsightedness of the engineers that the chassis and brakes were also able to handle the enormous potential of the Cayenne Turbo S. The entire vehicle was set up for maximum athleticism. Model line director Wolpert brought a wealth of experience with control systems to the task and pushed hard for their use in the suspension and all-wheel-drive system in the Cayenne as well. The traction of all Cayenne models benefited from the new Porsche Traction Management (PTM). In the standard configuration, it distributed power between the axles 38:62 front to rear, but was also variable by way of a multi-plate clutch and could deliver 100:0 and 0:100 as needed. Away from paved roads, Cayenne drivers could also depend on a low-range transfer box to improve traction. A fully locking centre-differential prevented the wheels from spinning even if they briefly lifted off the ground.
Sporting excellence on and off the road
Alongside the PTM, the PASM system also contributed mightily to the commanding performance both on- and off-road. Porsche Active Suspension Management was also featured in the Cayenne for the first time. In the Cayenne Turbo S, it was offered as standard along with air suspension. PASM continuously regulates the damping forces and incorporates the condition of the road and the Cayenne driver’s driving style into its calculations. The air suspension also helped the Cayenne off-road. Its already impressive ground clearance of 21.7 centimetres when on steel suspension extended to up to 27.3 cm thanks to the self-levelling system of the first-generation Cayenne’s air suspension.
Exclusively on the Cayenne Turbo S, Porsche installed the biggest brake system that it had put in a series production vehicle to date. The diameter of the front brake discs increased to 380 mm, and 358 mm at the rear, compared to 350 and 330 on the Turbo. The brake callipers also grew, which required the use of at least 19-inch wheels, a rim size that was intended for use with winter tyres. The Cayenne Turbo S was equipped with 20-inch wheels as standard. The lightweight wheels carried 275/40-size tires that were specially designed for the Cayenne and were approved for speeds of up to 186 mph.
Entry-level model, diesel and a preview of the future
From 2002 to 2007, Porsche launched four variants of the first-generation Cayenne. In addition to the Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo and Cayenne Turbo S, there was also a base Cayenne, which did not carry an additional designation. This model served as an entry point to the model line and was equipped with a V6 from co-operation partner Volkswagen. The 3.2-liter engine generated 247 hp and produced peak torque of 229 lb-ft. For the product update – the ‘facelift’ – in 2007, the established engines got power boosts, with the Cayenne Turbo S leading the way with 542 hp. New engines were also added with the Cayenne GTS 399 hp and Cayenne Diesel 237 hp. With the fully functional Cayenne Hybrid study, Porsche also ventured a glimpse into a partially electrified future.
Between 2002 and 2010, the first-generation Porsche Cayenne presented a total of six engine variants and eight equipment lines. A total of 276,652 vehicles rolled out of the factory, with the Cayenne S the biggest seller with a share of 38.9 per cent. The Turbo S, with only 5,455 deliveries, remained the exclusive super sports flagship. Another member of the Cayenne family continues to set the segment standard in terms of exceptional sports-car performance today. With the 631 hp Cayenne Turbo GT, Porsche launched a ‘Supersport Utility Vehicle’ in 2021 that was tailored to maximum handling and performance. With its outstanding driving characteristics, this vehicle raises the bar just as the first Cayenne Turbo S did in its day.
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