One of my all-time favourite luxury SUVs is the Porsche Cayenne S, for obvious reasons... I like my Germans big and fast. And this off-roader-cum-super car is both big, fast and uber-stylish.
With manufacturers getting hot under the collar over global warming issues, Porsche has gone to great lengths to make its beefiest wagon more planet and user friendly, while still capturing the essence of Porsche within its larger four wheel arches. Changes include new, more efficient engines and better aerodynamics.
With its all-new 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine, the Cayenne S has a great race car pedigree. And with the requirements of the modern family who wants go-anywhere transport, where style and status are as important as , Porsche is perfectly placed to harness its four-wheel drive technology in a big comfortable and luxurious family car.
To the untrained eye, external differences might not seem apparent, but I can assure you much has changed. The whole front end is different. The face has taken on a feisty new expression with a wider, deeper air intake, wider headlamps and a slightly less rounded bonnet. As you move towards the rear of the car, the waistline is more angled and the wheel arches are bigger, particularly at the rear, where the car has chunkier hips.
Thanks to the styling tweeks, the Cayenne cuts a 911 swathe through the air with little wind resistance and hardly any noise. With a low drag coefficient of just 0.35Cd and increased engine efficiency, fuel consumption is down more than 15 per cent under everyday driving conditions. I can vouch for that because the original Cayenne S was guzzling 19 mpg with me at the helm.
However, in the latest version the combined figure was 23 mpg. What's more, on a long journey to Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, I was realising more than 30mpg, travelling at a steady 59mph. That's marvellous from a 4.8-litre V8 petrol-powered four-wheel drive beast.
The Tiptronic six-speed gearbox has been reinforced and a longer final drive ratio aids the better fuel consumption when driving at speed. It is smoother with no auto-lurching. Of course, using the 'tip' buttons on the steering wheel to change gear not only gives you better control, you can get better mileage out of your gallon too.
Despite the pleasure of cruising long distance, the Cayenne is not an economical commuter car. It is more at home on a country estate, or suburban driveway, where it might pull the odd horsebox or caravan.
It is unlikely your glossy, well-polished wagon will realise its potential up a mountain or down a green lane – probably more chance seeing Kate Moss mucking out pigs. However, thanks to the adjustable (optional) air suspension, at least you have the choice. You can raise the car up and wade through water to a depth of just over half a metre - should the supposed climate-induced flooding happen to hit your region.
Where the benefit of the Porsche Traction Management four-wheel drive really comes into its own is general driving. Unbelievably, and despite the better fuel economy, this heavyweight champion can propel you from 0-62mph in a gut-wrenching 6.8 seconds (down from 7.2).
The handling is very Porsche thanks to standard PSM Porsche Stability Management, which features brake assistant and a pre-loading function that detects emergency braking that shortens stopping distances.
I'd love to see a championship for Cayennes. That sure would make for some exciting action on the race track. 911 Carrera eat your heart out. It's the Cayenne Cup for me.
Must-have options include PASM and Dynamic Chassis Control. It is these features that stop the car wallowing and stiffen up the chassis to give you that Porsche sports car handing and agility and I cannot recommend the car without this option.
A new feature on the Cayenne range is the sport button, which, when activated, makes the car behave more like a sports car than a 4x4. Models fitted with tiptronic, air suspension and the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) offer an even more sporting configuration.
Moving inside the Cayenne and I think Porsche has played down the interior. It's not quite as glamorous as its predecessor. I sense a slightly more down-to-earth approach here. You still get your sill to sill shag-pile and beautiful leather trim, but it seems to have a more matt finish with less emphasis on 'shiny stuff'. Brushed aluminium is the accent now.
It still has that distinctive delicious new-Porsche smell and the huge comfy front seats are electrically adjustable. Headroom and legroom abounds and everything inside the cabin is big, including the extra sun visors.
Quality is paramount both inside and out and the Porsche has to be the most refined, sturdy and luxurious cars on the market.
When you buy Porsche, you are buying into a lifestyle. If 'sighs' means everything to you forget the 911, the Cayenne S is all that plus a whole lot more. In fact, it is a whole other car when you think about its off-road capabilities, pulling power and the fact it has room for five adults.
Cayenne is all the car you'll ever need and is even more attractive thanks to its eco-friendlier credentials and better fuel economy.
PORSCHE Cayenne S
4.8-litre V8 petrol with six-speed Tiptronic
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 6.8 seconds
Max power: 385bhp at 6,200 rpm
Max torque: 500 Nm at 3,500 rpm
Urban economy: 13.9mpg
Extra urban: 28.5 mpg
Combined: 20.6 mpg
CO2 emissions: 329 g/km
Price £48,370
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