Porsche 955 (Cayenne)

The Porsche Cayenne is available in two versions, the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. Additional front air inlets, 'power domes' on the hood, and four exhaust tailpipes distinguish the Cayenne Turbo from the Cayenne S. The interior shows the Porsche sporting heritage, blending organic curves with sturdy metallic elements for a robust appearance appropriate to this new type of Porsche. This model line also extended the interior redesign to the 987/997 generation as well.

With the Cayenne introduced the 'Porsche Traction Management' (PTM) permanent four-wheel drive system, a pneumatic suspension system with a self-leveling feature and six adjustable ride height positions, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which is an electronically variable damping system that stabilizes body sway during sudden gas or brake pedal applications or when driving on rough terrain. These systems work together to ensure the Cayenne offers an optimum blend of outstanding on-pavement and off-pavement driving qualities.

The Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanent four-wheel drive system is standard on both Cayenne models and feeds 62 percent of the engine power to the rear wheels and 38 percent to the front wheels in the basic mode. A multiple-plate clutch operated by an electric motor and controlled electronically is able to vary the distribution of power according to specific driving conditions, whenever necessary feeding up to 100 percent of the engine torque either to the front or the rear.

Porsche Stability Management (PSM), also standard on Cayenne, maintains a constant dialogue with PTM but only intervenes when the vehicle reaches its physical limit. Coordinating essential systems such as the anti-lock brake system (ABS), the automatic slip regulation (ASR), and the automatic brake differential (ABD), PSM is immediately available whenever the Cayenne enters critical over- or understeer conditions, 'telling' PTM to open the differential locks in order to re-stabilize the car by applying the brakes specifically on individual wheels.

The pneumatic suspension not only guarantees extra ground clearance on rough terrain, its self-leveling feature provides a consistent vehicle position regardless of the load. The system also ensures maximum driving pleasure and active safety by automatically lowering the Cayenne relative to increasing road speed. Incorporating six different ride height levels, the pneumatic suspension adjusts over a range of 116 mm (4.57 inches). At speeds exceeding 210 km/h or 130 mph, the Cayenne automatically moves down to its extra-low ride level, which is 11 mm or 0.43 inches below the "regular" low setting. The special off-pavement level is for the most extreme driving conditions, raising the Cayenne another 30 mm or 1.18 inches to a ground clearance of 273 mm or 10.75 inches.

Featuring an all-new, Porsche designed and manufactured 340 bhp V8 engine, the Cayenne S accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 7.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 242 km/h or 150 mph. The Cayenne Turbo also features a 4.5-liter V8 engine, but develops a maximum of 450 bhp (DIN) thanks to two turbochargers with intercoolers. This ensures acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 266 km/h or 165 mph.

Cayenne production takes place in Leipzig, Germany, in a newly constructed manufacturing facility, but its engine will be built in Zuffenhausen. Porsche will produce approximately 25,000 Cayenne SUVs during the first full year of production, 70 percent of which will be for export worldwide, including the United States and Canada.