Porsche Cayenne, Porsche 911, Porsche Reviews, Buy Porsche
Porsche 911
This latest
generation of Porsche 911 represents a major update,
but despite the changes, no one will mistake the cars for
something other than a 911. In fact, it looks conspicuously
similar to the original 1964 model, maintaining the classis
profile that has landed it in art museums and design school
lecture halls. For Porsche, the 911's heritage can be a
double-edged sword. Leave the car alone, and it might be
perceived as dated. Change the car too drastically, and it
might alienate hard-core loyalists, many of whom form the core
group of 911 buyers.
The styling has devolved slightly from
the earlier 911, just like the basic character of the car. The
most obvious change is the headlights and front fascia.
Rounder, single-pod lamps replace the teardrop-shaped
multi-light headlight assemblies used on pre-2005 models. The
new headlights sit more upright in the front fenders, and the
turn signals and foglights are now laid horizontally in a
squarer front bumper. The new look more quickly distinguishes
the 911 from Porsche's less expensive Boxster. As
significantly, it harkens back to the rugged look of 911s
built during the 1980s.
Porsche
Cayenne
Cayenne's
headlights and grille work closely resemble those on the 911
and Boxster and identify it as a Porsche.
As it is with the
911 Turbo, the Cayenne Turbo models are distinguished
by larger grilles that increase the amount of air flowing
through the engine bay. The Turbo S is further distinguished
by quad tailpipes, body-color front grilles and special
badging.
The designers believe they've transferred all
the emotion of a Porsche sports car to the Cayenne, but we'll leave that call to you. The
designer's handiwork has produced a 0.39 coefficient of drag,
impressive for a big SUV, and good for limiting wind noise at
high speed.
The Cayenne is not a small vehicle.
Measuring 188.3 inches in length, with a wheelbase of 112.4
inches, it's longer than the BMW X5 and and about the same as
the 2006 Mercedes M-Class and a few hundred pounds
heavier than either. Conversely, at 4785 pounds in its
lightest specification, Cayenne weighs 550 pounds less than a
Lincoln Navigator, which is two feet longer. An inspection
underneath this SUV suggests that it's perhaps over-engineered
compared to many mass-market sport-utilities, but Porsche
engineers preferred not to take chances with their first SUV
in the event that some owners actually drive it aggressively
off road.
