The Porsche Cayenne is a mid-size luxury SUV produced by the German automaker Porsche since 2002. It is the first V8 engined vehicle built by Porsche since 1995, when the Porsche 928 was discontinued. Sales of the Cayenne have been strong, with 100,000 sold as of June 2005, becoming Porsche’s best-selling vehicle in North America. 40% of Cayenne sales are in North America. Sales slowed by 2006. The Cayenne was skipped for the 2007 model year, but has been redesigned for 2008. The 2008 model with feature a 4.8L V-8 engine with two turbochargers producing 500 hp and 516 lb./ft. of torque reaching an estimated top speed of 171 mph.
The turbocharged model has extremely high performance for a sport utility vehicle. It is roughly as quick to 60 miles per hour as the company’s Boxster S (about 5.2 seconds. Reviews indicate that the Cayenne handles remarkably well for a heavy SUV, whilst having a comfortable ride, and, by some sources, better off-road ability than BMW, Mercedes, and Infiniti. Those cars are, unlike native off-road vehicles, not meant to climb rock mountains and pass deep rivers (due to the price and comfort they offer) but are fully capable to drive “where man needs”. Many users of SUVs report that car’s ability to reach any skiing or recreational center and being comfortable during general winter drive is all they need. Other reasons for buying such cars are increased safety, street overview, and independence on “planned route” - which is why many US-based SUVs and pickups lack even 4-wheel drive or self-locking differentials. The Cayenne does not therefore offer the level of off-road capability of Land Rover products.
Porsche introduced a higher-output Turbo S version at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show to compete with the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, which produces 510 hp (375 kW) and accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds. The Turbo S produces 520 hp (389 kW) and 531 ft·lbf (720 N·m), making it the second most powerful SUV after the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG.
The Turbo S also has a recalibrated suspension, 20 inch wheels, and larger brake discs. It lowers 27 mm above 125 km/h and 11 mm more above 210 km/h.