Porsche majority stockholder of Volkswagen and recipient of quality Volkswagen auto components such as VW oxygen sensors [http://www.vdubpartsdirect.com/vw_oxygensensor.html]–have denied recently the accusations that it has used the Cayenne V6 exclusivity to boost profits.
Porsche majority stockholder of Volkswagen and recipient of quality Volkswagen auto components such as VW oxygen sensors [http://www.vdubpartsdirect.com/vw_oxygensensor.html]–have denied recently the accusations that it has used the Cayenne V6 exclusivity to boost profits.
The company was very pleased with its entry-level version of the Cayenne off-roader. Unfortunately the Volkswagen-powered V6 variant was not able to make it at the launching of the updated Cayenne.
The new Cayenne that was recently presented to the media in North-Eastern Victoria is part of a mid-life upgrade for the Cayenne large four-wheel drive which was first launched in the mid of 2003. The update that includes some major styling and mechanical modifications were not only employed on the new Cayenne but across the range.
The model range has increased from two to three and currently includes the entry-level Cayenne V6 with a price tag of $97,400. It’s the first under $100,000 new Porsche since the last 944 coupe created by the German sports car manufacturer in 1986.
The Cayenne Turbo (V8) and the Cayenne S (V8) both have bigger engines and delivers more power but despite the engine size, Porsche claims that these two Cayenne models deliver fuel economy of up to 15 percent. Aside from that, the styling changes were also made to a minimal just enough to freshen the two-toned SUV’s look and improves its aerodynamic performance.
Last 2004 the Cayenne sales reached only 562 but unfortunately for Porsche four-door by the year 2005 its sales plunge to 414 and further decline in 2006 at 332 units sold. But Porsche Cars Australia managing director Michael Winkler is optimistic that the new looks of the Cayenne plus the introduction of the V6 engine would finally help the range to recover.
Winkler also rebuts reports that suggest that a Porsche is slower than a fleet Falcon. He said that such damaging reports can put the Porsche brand in a bad light. The report that Winkler is pointing at the report found on the enthusiast magazines that claimed they have timed a Falcon and a Cayenne, and found out that the Falcon can reach 100km/h in less than 8 seconds while the Cayenne V6 is claimed to take 8.5 seconds.
BMW also boasts of a 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds performance time delivered by its X5 3.0 liter engine, which they claimed is 0.4 sec faster than Porsche. Even the diesel X5 is just 0.1 seconds off the Cayenne’s pace.
There was no way for the Australian media to verify whether the Cayenne V6 is really the fastest car in its class or whether it possess the level of performance and exclusivity that buyers expect since the Cayenne V6 was not present at the media launch. Porsche Cars Australia took six cars to Australia for the said launch and not one of them was a Cayenne V6–all were V8 models.
Winkler also denies reports that the Cayenne V6 will share the 3.6 liter V6 engine with a $20,000 cheaper Volkswagen Touareg together with the $84,900 aUDI q7 would not help the Cayenne at all. He said, “No, I don’t think they would know this. Remember, too, our engine is more powerful [by just 7kW] and has been engineered to suit the character and performance Porsche buyers expect.”
Porsche is expecting that the V6 variant to increase by at least 30 percent the demand for Cayenne. Winkler told drive.com.au in an interview that in case demand surpasses such target, Porsche would take steps to tighten supply.
