This special 100,000th Cayenne, resplendent in “pure white”, is being delivered to a customer in Brazil complete with a V8 engine (the 250,000th first generation Cayenne was also done in white, but was of the diesel variety).

Strong Demand for Porsche Cayenne and Panamera Spurs Expansion

“Ten years ago the success story of Porsche Leipzig startet. What was a greenfield site, today ranks among the most modern car plants in the world. In addition to the Cayenne, Leipzig is also where Porsche produces the very successful Panamera luxury saloon, approximately 70,000 units of which have now rolled off the production line. That is why more than 93,800 vehicles left the Porsche plant in Leipzig in 2011, more than in any year before”, says Wolfgang Leimgruber, Member of the Executive Board of Production and Logistics of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. “Because of the consistently high demand for the Cayenne and Panamera we will be introducing a third production shift in Leipzig at the end of January. With the new production sequence, 500 vehicles on average will be produced each day,” Leimgruber adds.

The introduction of a three shift operation is only one of many challenges in the near future. Building work for a major expansion of the plant is currently underway. A paint shop and body assembly line for an entirely new model line that will start to come off the Leipzig production line from the end of 2013 onward are among the facilities being built on a 17 hectare site. Porsche is investing a total of 500 million euro in the production site in Saxony for assembly of the Cajun, creating more than 1,000 new jobs.

Siegfried Bülow, President and Chief Executive Officer, explains:

“2012 will therefore be an eventful and exciting year in many respects. We are welcoming many new employees, holding topping-out ceremonies on the new site, celebrating the 500,000th Porsche “Made in Leipzig” and last but not least the tenth production anniversary.”

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When we bought our 2009 Cayenne one of the first things I did was to protect the outside of it with a clear bra. This turned out to be a great investment and my only regret is that I didn’t do something to protect the inside of my Porsche at the same time. You see, we split our time between Maine, Florida and a little barrier island off the coast of Massachusetts. Each one of these locations offers something unique in the way of dirtying the caramel interior of my Porsche (sand, mud, salt and slush). After nearly two years of stepping in and out of my Cayenne, the front mats were in pretty poor shape. With the weather turning colder and snow on the horizon I knew I needed to do something before things got any worse.

After looking around on the web I found a number of choices for Porsche Floor Mats

• SuncoastParts.com (this is where we buy almost all of our parts and accessories) had a couple of choices including a relatively inexpensive set of rubber floor mats ($92.95) as well as a complete set (front and rear) of fitted and branded heavy duty Porsche floor mats ($189.95).

• Then there was AutoAnything.com. They have a huge selection and are currently running a sale where you can save up to 35% off list on Floor Mats & get Free Shipping on top brands like Husky Liners, CatchAll, Hexomat and more! What’s nice about AutoAnything.com, is the selection (pricing ranges from $25 a set to over $100).

• Lastly, I looked at WeatherTech mats. They offered two choices: 1. The WeatherTech^® all-weather floor mats designed to keep your vehicle floors clean and clear of rain, snow, mud and debris. but may require some cutting (in the rear to get the right fit) ($99.95). And, 2. The DigitalFit^TM FloorLiners^TM which are custom cut to fit your Porsche perfectly right out of the box and offer even more protection that the “all weather mats”. ($179.90)

What We Chose and Why

I wanted to buy the branded, heavy duty mats from SuncoastParts.com. Not only are they a sponsor of our site, but it’s where we buy almost all our parts (for all three of our Porsches) and they always provide us with great service. Unfortunately, this one time, they simply didn’t have the color I wanted available (I wanted to closely match our interior color vs. offset it) and I couldn’t wait due to impending snow fall.

I considered the selection from AutoAnything.com (as they were by far the cheapest) but in the end I felt you really do get what you pay for. While some of their offerings were decent, none seemed to be a true custom fit and perhaps more importantly, none of them used our factory hardware to snap down. If this isn’t a concern and you’re cost conscious, they do have some good, inexpensive choices.

So, after careful consideration I ended up ordering the DigitalFit^TM FloorLiners^TM from WeatherTech (pictures above). While more expensive than their all-weather floor mats, the Digital Fit mats are custom cut to match the shape of my Cayenne and they used the factory floor snaps to stay in place. Even better, I already had a WeatherTech^® Cargo Liner in the back of the Cayenne, so now everything matches.

Final Thoughts of New Porsche Floor Mats

When my new mats arrived all I needed to do was take them out of the box and snap them into place. For the front mats you must remove your carpets in order to install the WeatherTech mats. Not only does this ensure you won’t further stain your Porsche mats, but you can use the those factory clips (in the Cayenne they’re round snaps) to hold the mats in place. While they recommend you remove your carpets in back too, I found that the WeatherTech mats were simply too short (see picture in gallery of rear seat. Notice how the new rubber mat stops well short of covering the original mat?). They fit the floor space in the back of the Cayenne perfectly, but they didn’t run under the back of the front seat the way the carpet does. After looking at pictures of all the various offerings, it seems this is a shortfall for any selection. As the rear mats don’t snap in, I opted to keep my carpets in place to further protect the floors in the event that any of my long legged friends decide to stretch their dirty shoes beyond the reach of the new mats.

One last thing to note. WeatherTech calls the color I ordered Tan. However, as you can see in the pictures, and like my cargo liner in the back, it’s more of a dark beige than anything else. It sill looks better than an even darker color like grey or black, but it’s definitely darker than it appears on the WeatherTech site.

Do you run Winter Floor Mats in Your Porsche

What about you? Do you use winter mats in your Porsche? It doesn’t matter if you drive a Cayenne or drive your 911, Boxster, Cayman, etc. year round. Any model can benefit from the protection these custom fit rubber mats afford.

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Porsche to Unveil the 911 Cabriolet in Detroit

It’s safe to say that last year’s Detroit show was most likely a bit more exciting for Porsche fans than what is planned this year. That’s not to say there’s nothing fun about a world premier, especially one that shows the drop top variant of the new 2012 911. It’s just that it’s hard to compete with the premier of the Porsche 918 RSR. Unlike the 918, it’s a safe bet that the 911 Cabriolet will still be on hand when the show opens to the public this year (unlike the disappearance of the 918).

What’s With Yet Another Porsche Model

The Cabriolet was a given, but the Cayenne is somewhat of a surprise. However, if Porsche wants to continue their impressive sales growth they need new models (like the Cayenne Diesel) to move them along.

In 2011, Porsche’s dealers in the USA sold 29,023 Cayennes, Panameras, 911s, Boxsters and Caymans to US customers. That was 15 per cent more than in the previous year. For 2012, Porsche expects sales in the US to exceed 30,000 units. Seems pretty conservative to me given the size and importance of the US market to Porsche.

“The USA is and remains an important market for Porsche with good growth prospects,” said Bernhard Maier, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing. “By building a new headquarters in Atlanta in the US State of Georgia we are underlining our growth ambitions in the region,” continued Maier.

Porsche’s new US Headquarters

The complex, adjacent to the new terminal of Atlanta’s international airport, will comprise not just modern, energy-efficient offices for approximately 400 employees but also the technical service department as well as a training center and circuit where customers can test the Porsche vehicles’ outstanding driving characteristics. The new US headquarters, which will for the first time centralize all administrative, training and sales functions and financial services, is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2013. Porsche Cars North America has been based in Atlanta for the past 13 years. Porsche also plans to build an additional customer test facility in Carson in California, between the airports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Porsche is investing more than 100 million US dollars in the Atlanta head office and test facility in Carson.

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If you need further proof

If the video above doesn’t prove the toughness and safety of the Cayenne then watch the video below. About 40 seconds in you’ll experience first hand what Porsche Canada’s PR guy Laurance Yap felt like when he was involved in a high speed crash and rollover during the 2007 Trannsyberia Rally. FAIR WARNING IF YOU’RE OPENING AT WORK, THERE IS SOME ADULT LANGUAGE!!!

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Improvements to the Cayenne S Hybrid

The 380-horsepower Cayenne S Hybrid, with its ultra-efficient combination of 3.0-litre supercharged V6 and electric motor, now has an enhanced hybrid manager. If the conditions are right, it is now possible even from a cold start to drive at low speed on electric power alone. Previously, driving on electric power after starting the engine was only possible once operating temperature had been reached.

Power Kit Boost Cayenne Turbo to 540 hp

The new model year also heralds the availability of new Porsche Exclusive options for the Cayenne models. As with the Panamera Turbo, a power kit is now on offer for the Cayenne Turbo as well, boosting the maximum power by 40 hp to 540 hp. Performance improves to 4.6 seconds (minus 0.1 s) for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h; top speed rises to 281 km/h. Despite the extra power and torque, fuel consumption and emissions remain unchanged:

The increased power is partly achieved by two new turbochargers with titanium-aluminum turbine wheels and adjustments to the engine electronics, resulting in perceptible improvements in the engine’s response. The greater power requires improvements to the braking system as well; brake cooling has been further improved and the optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system provides enhanced deceleration courtesy of larger 420-mm front brake discs.

Numerous new visual enhancements are available

A new SportDesign package with painted wheel arch extension is available to give the new Cayenne an even more aggressive look. Also for the exterior, the Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic lighting system are available with black housings; new quad sports tailpipes and dark-tinted LED rear lights are also new for 2012. For the Cayenne’s interior, Porsche Exclusive offers numerous new options for visual customization, including new decorative stitching and leather packages as well as a Yachting Mahogany package with precious-wood inlays. The offering is rounded off by a milled aluminum Tiptronic S gear selector and new stainless steel and carbon door entry guards.

More Standard Equipment on the Panamera

The Panamera, Porsche’s four-door Gran Turismo, rolls into the 2012 model year with more standard equipment. Heated seats, previously an option on V6 models, are now standard across the lineup, while a heated steering wheel, formerly also an option, is also standard on all Panamera models.

The range of options for the Panamera model line has also been enhanced. A Lane Change Assist system adapted from the Cayenne will be available from autumn 2011. It monitors the area behind and to the side of the vehicle as well as the blind spot and informs the driver via a signal in the exterior mirror if the system has located another vehicle in the adjacent lane. The Lane Change Assist system can be activated by a switch on the driver’s door and operates between 30 and 250 km/h (19 and 156 mph).

New Porsche Exclusive options for the Panamera exterior include Bi-Xenon main headlights in black including Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) as well as a redesigned sports tailpipe. A wireless internet access system will be available later in the year. It creates a wireless hotspot on board the Panamera, giving passengers the ability to access the Internet while in the car.

Important information about leasing a 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid

One thing to note about the tax credit; it’s available only to those that purchase the new Cayenne. In other words, according to the tax code, if you lease your new Cayenne the leasing company can claim the credit on your behalf. Definitely keep this in mind when negotiating a lease on your new Cayenne. I know I would hate to leave $1800 on the table.*

*We’re definitely not tax accounts here at PorschePurist, so take the above advice at your own risk and do your own research. Our statements above are based on our interpretation of this document on the IRS’s web-site and this explanation about leasing hybrids on cars.com. If anyone knows differently, be sure to let us know.

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Porsche’s first production hybrid, the 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid sport-utility vehicle, has been certified as being eligible for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit as a Qualified Hybrid Motor Vehicle. Customers who purchase a new 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid before December 31, 2010 or who have already purchased one earlier this year may be eligible for a one-time tax credit up to $1,800.

The Cayenne S Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds on its way to a top test track speed of 150 mph, yet it delivers an impressive EPA-certified 20 mpg city/24 highway. Its base price before the federal tax credit is $67,700 (excluding destination).

In the Cayenne and Panamera model lines the ‘S’ designation indicates a V8 under the hood. But the ‘S’ in the Cayenne S Hybrid name is there for a different reason – to identify the true performance character of this SUV’s highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid delivers performance nearly equal to the Cayenne S with its 400-horsepower V8 and fuel economy estimates that exceed those of the Cayenne with the V6 engine.

The all-new Porsche Cayenne has earned some significant awards since going on sale this summer. It is the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year® and also recently received the Auto Pacific Motorist Choice Award for Best Premium Active Lifestyle Vehicle. Finally, the Cayenne Turbo was named Luxury ALV of the Year, On-Road in the 2011 Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year Awards competition.

The North American Cayenne lineup also includes the Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. They are powered by a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 in the Cayenne, a 400-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne S, and a 500-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne Turbo. The Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo SUV models are on sale now, and their base prices (excluding destination) are as follows: Cayenne, $46,700; Cayenne S, $63,700; and Cayenne Turbo, $104,800.

[Source: PCNA, IRS, Cars.com]

MotorTrend was quick to follow-up the Facebook announcement with another online post to their own web-site including the video above (if you’re viewing this post via email you may need to visit PorschePurist.com to see the video). The post and video detail the judging process and why the Cayenne was selected. In a nutshell, the Cayenne was judged to be the best in the following six key categories:

• Engineering Excellence

• Advancement in Design

• Efficiency

• Safety

• Value

• Performance of Intended Function

While the method of announcement shouldn’t overshadow the achievement – The Porsche Cayenne IS MotorTrend’s 2011 SUV of the Year – it does highlight the growing importance of Facebook, other social media, and the role of non-traditional media in general.

Feel free to check out our thoughts on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne’s off-road ability and the complete 2011 Cayenne line-up. In the spirit of MotorTrend’s announcement, we would love it if you hooked up with us on our newly launched Facebook page or joined our followers on Twitter.

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Back in 2007, the freakishly smart engineers at the Georgia Tech Robotics Institute (GTRI) developed Sting (a completely autonomous Porsche Cayenne) to compete in the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge. As if that weren’t complicated enough, this year they upgraded Sting with a new radio that allows it to communicate with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) outfitted with similar equipment. Why would a robotic Porsche need to talk to robotic planes? To locate a target of course. Huh?

Let me try to explain

Sting is just one part of a three part system known as the Collaborative Unmanned Systems Technology Demonstrator or CUSTD for short. CUSTD’s two other major components are small-scale yellow UAVs (they are actually 1/4 scale Piper Cubs) that are designed to work in conjunction with the Porsche to track targets. According to Scientific America, “In a typical CUSTD scenario, the two aircraft search for an existing target over a wide area. When one plane spots the target, it radios its location using GPS coordinates to Sting, which then finds its way to the target. The UAV over the target can also call in the second aircraft to fly to the target and use its sensors to further analyze the situation.”

The point of CUSTD is to demonstrate how dissimilar robotic vehicles (in this case Porsches and planes) can work together to solve problems with little to no human involvement. Possible uses for the technology are only limited by your imagination but might include, military work such as detecting the presence of toxic or lethal chemicals (the Porsche is equipped with a chemical sensor), bomb detection, tracking ground troops, etc.

All I kept thinking about when I read this were those signs you see on the side of the highway. You know the ones I’m talking about, “speed checked by aircraft”. Now, not only can they check it, but they can call in “Sting” to make the bust.

How do you take something with so much potential to be cool and make it boring?

Simple, have a robotics engineer narrate the video. Seriously, if you want more information about Sting and how the CUSTD system works you can watch the video*. However, don’t say I didn’t warn you!! All joking aside, this is pretty impressive technology and I like the fact that they chose a Porsche as part of the system. I wonder how long it will be before we see this type of stuff deployed in everyday life?

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*The video is from Scientific America. Unfortunately, they make you sit through a 15 second advertisement before you get to watch.

[Source: Scientific America, GTRI]

A few weeks ago I was spending some time on YouTube and I came across a channel for a dealer group in Arlington, VA by the name of Rosenthal Automotive. They have dealerships for a number of different brands, including our favorite marque, Porsche. After watching a few of their video reviews I decided to subscribe to their YouTube channel in the event they posted a review on a Porsche. You see, Rosenthal appears to produce their own short video segments using the same actor (playing a different character) in each piece. Not only that, if you watch the videos in chronological order, the production values and writing get better week after week. Well, just yesterday they published the video below. As it’s the best yet and about a Porsche, I just had to to share.

While Rosenthal Porsche is not a sponsor of PorschePurist, nor are they even local to us, we might consider doing business with them just for this great, grass-roots marketing campaign. One question, what’s that accent supposed to be??? Let me know what you think.

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Pursuit Systems, the company that makes these camera vehicles, has some other fairly unique toys in their garage besides the Cayenne Turbo. Check out this modified off-road buggy below.

I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking the buggy would make a great addition to our garage (seeing as how we already have a Cayenne)!

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