‘CAYENNE DO’ ATTITUDE
GREVENBROICH, GERMANY — Amid the seemingly unending, beautiful countryside tableau, the AD AC Fa hr sic her he its zentr um( a driving safety center) juts up nondescriptly as a two-story, small-footprint facility. In this inspiring setting, Porsche AG has chosen to hold its E3 Technology Workshop for motoring journalists from all over the world who have converged here in quest of further enlightenment about one important vehicle.
E3 is the internal code for the all-new Porsche Cayenne of the Stuttgart-headquartered supercar maker. The SUV has bucked controversial beginnings to register sales of more than 770,000 units since 2002, and is widely considered to be responsible for giving Porsche a much-needed shot in the arm amid previously flagging sales. Its success in the format has proven to be an inspiration for other auto manufacturers as well — even as Porsche deigned to release another a smaller ute (also selling well) in the Macan.
Understandably, Porsche has devoted a lot of attention and effort into making the E3 a no less compelling vehicle that should reward Cayenne aficionados and aspirers. Starting with three variants ( Turbo, S and a base variant), there is indeed a long list of changes and improvements that should delight observers, and we have chosen eight characteristics to highlight here. The all-new Cayenne starts delivery next year (with scattered regional launches) and, surely, 2018 can’t come soon enough.
E3 is based on the 911.
Porsche isn’t just name-dropping its iconic sports car but, rather, earnestly looked into cascading its ethos onto the Cayenne. Visual and performance cues have rendered the E3 into a vastly sportier version — characteristics that we see for ourselves riding shotgun as Porsche instructors push the Cayenne on various terrain and situations.
now sports a mixed
set of tires. This is a first in the history of the Cayenne, and gives further credence to its 911 muse. Measuring 19- 21 inches, the external diameter of the tires has also increased 25 millimeters to 775 millimeters across the line, “ensuring that the larger standard wheels have no negative impact on comfort.” The options range from 255/55 up front, 275/ 50 rear rubber on 19- inch wheels to 285/40 front, 315/35 rear tires on 21- inch alloys. Porsche has for decades used different tires on its cars, and proven them to “enhance agility, stability, and driving dynamics, while larger tire size and adjusted air pressure also boost comfort.”
is bigger than the outgoing Cayenne. While keeping the wheelbase at 2,895 millimeters, the E3 grows in length by 63 millimeters. It assumes a sportier gait through roof-height reduction of nine millimeters. Luggage volume increases by 100 liters to 770 liters.
the growth spurt,
it is 65 kilos lighter. Porsche officials like to make mention of “intelligent lightweight design,” and that’s exactly what they have concocted in the E3. Even the body in white (a stage in manufacturing when the vehicle’s sheet metal components have been welded together) is lighter than the outgoing Cayenne’s by 22 kilos — achieved by using the “right material in the right place,” a mix of steel and aluminum to yield both weight advantages and high rigidity.
brakes better than ever.
In the E3, Porsche premieres the so-called Porsche Surface Coated Brake, or PSCB. The feature boasts discs with “exceptionally hard tungsten-carbide coating, combined with specially developed brake pads.” The system promises a number of advantages over Porsche’s standard gray cast-iron brakes — including up to a 30% longer service life, less brake dust produced, stable braking under extreme duress, and increased friction values for enhanced responsiveness.
E3 is the first SUV with an adaptive roof spoiler
and air brake. The Cayenne Turbo will signal the entry of Porsche Active Aerodynamics, or PAA, into the SUV segment. As in the 911 Turbo, a spoiler adjusts “aerodynamics and down force to suit driving conditions.” Above speeds of 160 kph, the Turbo’s spoiler angles to six degrees to “performance position” in aid of stabilization for the rear axle. Should the driver switch to Sport Plus driving mode, the tilt increases to 12.6 degrees. If the E3 is equipped with an optional panoramic roof system and it is opened, the spoiler adjusts to 19.9 degrees above speeds of 160 kph. The highest position (28.2 degrees) is achieved when the vehicle brakes rapidly at speeds between 170 kph and 270 kph. This reduces the braking distance by up to two meters.
7Three engines are available. The base Cayenne sports a three-liter, turbo-charged V6 good for 340 hp and 450 Nm; the S has a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 serving up 440 hp and 550 Nm; and the Turbo presents a four-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 dishing out 550 hp and 770 Nm.
like the new Panamera, the E3 will now sport the
new PCM. The luscious, 12.3inch full-HD touch screen of the latest Porsche Communication Management, or PCM, makes an appearance in the E3. More functions can be accessed through the system via touch or even voice. This technology fits right into the philosophy of the Porsche Advanced Cockpit, which makes things simpler and, well, more high-tech — all about “writing a new chapter in the relationship between driver and vehicle.” There are less buttons to contend with, and the E3 promises a more seamless experience and greater synergy with mobile devices.