The Porsche Cayenne is known for its off-road ability and handling, and is a big hit in the market. However, this car series was questioned when it debuted, because before the launch of the Cayenne, Porsche was a manufacturer focused on sports cars, and building an SUV was not a wise choice, and if it was not done well, it would affect the brand value. However, the Cayenne is not your average SUV, it broke the doubts and proved itself at the beginning of its launch.
At that time, Porsche, as a traditional sports car manufacturer, would want to produce an SUV?It was born out of the idea of the company's founder, Ferry Porsche. In 1989, Ferry Porsche predicted: "If we build a Porsche off-road car according to our quality standards and have a Porsche coat of arms on the front cover, people will buy it." This idea was not put into practice at the outset, as Porsche was in crisis and on the verge of bankruptcy, and it was not until 1996 that the Boxster became a popular model. At this point, the company had the resources to develop a new car line, which the management also believed would be good for growth. So, in this context, an SUV was born, which was named Cayenne.
In March 2002, the first-generation Cayenne was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. This SUV has caused a novelty in the market, but it has also suffered a lot of controversy, and it is believed that Porsche should not make an SUV, which will affect the brand image. However, soon Cayenne won the recognition of the market with its excellent strength. Equipped with Porsche Traction Management, it can efficiently distribute the drive torque between the front and rear axles, making it more stable when maneuvering the car to change lanes at high speeds and stronger in the field. The air suspension's damping is continuously adjustable, stabilizing body sway when the accelerator or brake pedal is suddenly pressed. The chassis ground clearance can be adjusted by the horizontal height control system, set at 217cm to 273 cm, greatly enhancing the passing capacity. In terms of competition, Cayenne further showed his strength. In 2006, Cayenne won and finished first and second in the rally from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and the following year he finished in the top three. This performance has made the Cayenne a huge success, with a total of 276652 units sold in its eight years on the market, far exceeding the company's internal expectations.
The second-generation Cayenne was launched in 2010 with a more sporty look and enhanced off-road ability and handling. The rear window and roof section have a more sloping curve, and the rear spoiler is extended to enhance the sporty look. The built-in full-time all-wheel drive system can be controlled electronically for greater flexibility. PDCC active anti-roll bars are available as an option, with the former sensing and compensating for vehicle roll, and the active suspension management system, which continuously adjusts the damping characteristics of each wheel according to road conditions, increasing handling on the road and stability on off-road terrain.
In 2017, a new generation of Cayenne was unveiled, with further enhanced off-road capabilities and handling. Terrain selection modes such as mud, sand, sand and rocks have been added, which can intelligently distribute the front and rear power in different modes, improving the adaptability of off-road sections. The eight-speed Tiptonic S gearbox amplifies the engine's torque and enhances the dynamics of low-speed off-roading. PDCC active anti-roll bars and active suspension management are standard, and the rear-axle steering system is equipped for greater steering precision, more agility when cornering, more stability when changing lanes at high speeds, and smaller cornering diameters. Thanks to the excellent handling of the third-generation Cayenne, it went to the Nürburgring Nordschleife to record and rank laps, which is known for its narrow roads and difficult routes. It was the first SUV to compete in the race, with a lap time of 7:42.25, which is comparable to that of some sports cars.
The Cayenne is an excellent off-road SUV that has been around for more than 20 years and has achieved remarkable results in the global market. Although it was controversial at the beginning of its birth, it was recognized soon after its launch. It helped Porsche break new ground and became one of Porsche's best-selling car series. In the summer of 2020, the 1,000,000th Cayenne rolled off the assembly line, marking a milestone in the history of the series. Now, in the face of the wave of vehicle electrification, Porsche, like other car companies, is also considering transformation. In 2021, the Volkswagen Group announced its "2030 New Auto" strategy. According to the plan, Porsche will achieve the goal of more than 80% of its sales of pure electric models by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality. This means that the next generation of Cayenne has the potential to complete the full transition to electric vehicles. It is believed that with the blessing of electrification, Cayenne can still continue to be brilliant.