Over a quarter of a million examples of the Porsche Cayenne have been sold since its launch six years ago. With over 60 years' experience of building some of the world's best sports cars, Porsche brought its expertise in engine technology and chassis development to a new segment with the Cayenne. And now it is adding further versatility to the model range with two new propulsion units.
The most significant addition to the Cayenne range - the Cayenne Diesel shares the same spirit as its gasoline-engined relatives. The introduction of the Cayenne Diesel extends customer choice and the Porsche stake in Volkswagen Group, the world's largest manufacturer of modern diesel engines for passenger cars, has opened new opportunities to utilize diesel technology under the hood of the Cayenne.
The Cayenne Diesel offers a 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel with 240hp and an average consumption of 30.4mpg Combined. The spontaneous throttle response and high torque characteristics of this common-rail direct fuel injection diesel engine ensure performance levels appropriate for an athletic, all-terrain vehicle such as the Cayenne. The substantial peak torque of 400 lb-ft between 2000-2400rpm complements the chassis dynamics and provides a high degree of control.
Hybrid drive by Porsche has a long tradition, with company founder Ferdinand Porsche being acknowledged as the inventor of this drive system. As early as 1900, Ferdinand Porsche developed the Lohner-Porsche Mixte as a serial hybrid vehicle (to use today's terminology) with the car's 15hp four-cylinder engine connected directly to an 80 volt dynamo. The electricity generated in this way went either to wheel hub electric motors integrated in the front wheels or to a battery. This vehicle is acknowledged as the world's first hybrid car in standard production.
Now, joining forces with Volkswagen, Porsche has again developed a production vehicle with hybrid drive for introduction later to the market. Drive power in the Cayenne S Hybrid will come primarily from a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with Direct Fuel Injection interacting with a 52hp electric motor used either as an additional source of power to boost output or as the sole drive unit operating on its own. Indeed, a unique function of the Cayenne Hybrid is its ability to smoothly cruise or `roll along' with the combustion engine switched off and disengaged at high speeds in the so-called `sailing' mode. This practice allows the driver to save fuel at speeds up to 86mph.
The Cayenne S Hybrid showcases a power-train at the cutting-edge of technology. With forced induction via an engine-driven supercharger, the 2995cc engine develops 333hp between 5500-7000rpm. Maximum torque of 325 lb-ft is produced at 2900rpm and sustained through to 5300rpm.
In conjunction with the combustion engine, the electric motor serves as a booster for extra power; maximum combined output is 374hp and peak torque of 400 lb-ft at 1500rpm. Accelerating from rest to 62mph in 6.8secs, the Cayenne S Hybrid thus offers the same sprinting qualities as its sister models with a `regular' V8 - hence it proudly bearing the same `S' designation.
Masterminded by the powerful Hybrid Manager, the Cayenne S Hybrid will consume some 20% less fuel than on a conventional vehicle comparable to a Cayenne and with the same kind of power. Based on a six cylinder engine, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the output of an eight cylinder with the fuel consumption of a four cylinder.