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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo by Cordell Koland Introduced in 2003, the 2008 model year marks the second generation of Porsche Cayenne, the company¹s successful effort to produce an SUV that drives like a sports car. Although you can select a Cayenne model that would do nicely off-road, this is not the intended use for the Turbo model. It is a highway cruiser that¹s aimed at the driver who wants the versatility of an SUV, but doesn¹t want to feel like he or she is driving a truck. Oh, yes, that person will also need a major-league wallet. The Cayenne Turbo is all about on-road performance. The Turbo model now claims 500 horsepower and for the first time is equipped with direct-injection technology for improved performance and gas mileage. It will zip from zero to sixty miles per hour in a scant 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 171 mph if you¹ve got the guts to go there. The optional 21-inch wheels and tires on our test Cayenne Turbo are a real indication of this vehicle¹s intended use. The Turbo was shod with low profile, high-performance tires that would be totally inappropriate off road of for a winter in Minnesota and the huge shiny wheels would soon lose their gloss if subject to a world of stumps, boulders and engaging tree limbs. No, keep this baby on the pavement. On the highway, the Cayenne Turbo just seems to warm up to the road around 80 miles per hour. It is extremely stable. But where it really shines is on demanding, high-speed mountain roads. California¹s coastal mountains are loaded with good examples of such and I exercised the Cayenne on one of my favorites. The handling was superb. The vehicle seems beautifully balanced as the weight shifted back and front, fore to aft. I¹d be hard pressed to say that the Cayenne Turbo gives up much to a luxury sports sedan, and I guess that¹s its very reason for being. I¹d grant the Cayenne Turbo exceptional braking power. There is no problem bringing the speed quickly down and the pedal provides exceptionally smooth modulation‹the ability to dial just the right amount of stopping power and then release in linear manner. The front brakes feature a six-piston aluminum monobloc design with large 13.78-inch inner-vented discs. Porsche claims that the body has been redesigned for 2008, but I think you¹d have to be very familiar with the outgoing model to spot major differences. But this is a Porsche and those of us who have seen the evolution of the 911 sports car have seen the company¹s incremental approach for decades. On the other hand, the new model has reduced the aerodynamic coefficient to 0.35‹an impressive number. The interior feels tasteful, tailored and restrained. This is very different from the more expressive approach one might find in a Lexus SUV. But in fact, the refined design fits well within the overall Porsche design philosophy. The controls are relatively easy to use. My one caveat is the functionality and operation of the satellite navigation system. The screen was small and not at all intuitive in use. The Japanese manufacturers still seem to have the market cornered on satellite navigation systems. Since its inception, the Cayenne seems to have also earned a pretty high social status, perhaps even challenging the Range Rover. One of our close friends owns a Cayenne. She is a 40-something owner of a thriving business that competes in an image business. Owning a Porsche says the right thing about a woman in a venture where glamour sells. Sally does need a practical vehicle as the owner of a large dog coupled with the reality that her business occasionally requires her to carry items larger than her handbag. I think that our Sally is representative of most upscale luxury utility vehicle owners. Utility comes to the forefront for a tailgate party or as transport for a couple of cases of chardonnay and some luggage on the semi-annual trip to the wine country. Vehicle:
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Price as tested: $106,595 Engine: Type: 4.8-liter V-8 with twin turbochargers Horsepower: 500 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 516 lbs.-ft. @ 2,250 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 12 mpg Highway 19 mpg Curb Weight: 5,191 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
