If you look beyond the headline of Porsche’s most recent press release, there’s some pretty interesting information buried in there. Not wanting to take away from the debut on the new 911 Cabriolet, Porsche quietly announced that the Cayenne Diesel is confirmed for the US sometime after the spring debut of the Porsche Panamera GTS and before the Cajun in 2013.
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.
Well, if you drive a Porsche Cayenne, wonder no more. While I have no idea what the announcer is saying in the video, it’s quite obvious that the Cayenne can take handle a high speed impact and keep you protected. I’m imaging the driver of this Cayenne to be drunk, but who knows. Watch as he just simply walks away after totaling his Cayenne and at least two other cars in the parking lot. If either of the two videos below don’t show up in your email, you can watch these Porsche Cayenne crash videos on our site.
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!!!
Porsche today announced several improvements to the Cayenne and Panamera model lines for the 2012 model year. Among them are improved driving performance for the Cayenne S Hybrid and numerous customization options for both models.
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.
Written on December 6th, 2010 at 9:03pm by Pepper Girl
UPDATE: Unfortunately, this tax credit is no history with little to no hope of seeing it again.
With a base price of $67,700, the 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid is not inexpensive. Fortunately, thanks to a Federal Tax Credit, it just became a bit more affordable. In an announcement released earlier today (see the full release at the end of this post), Porsche notes that the new Cayenne meets the guidelines required to be considered a “Qualified Hybrid Motor Vehicle”. What does that mean to you, the consumer? Simple. If you have already purchased, or plan to purchase a Cayenne S Hybrid before the end of 2011 (assuming you can find one on your local dealer’s lot) you may be eligible for an $1800 tax credit.
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.
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]
Written on October 19th, 2010 at 1:22pm by Pepper Girl
Just last week, the internet was abuzz about Porsche banning a large portion of their employees from accessing Facebook (see article). Citing security and industrial espionage fears, the sports car manufacturer blocked access for most European employees. In what could be an attempt to get even more publicity (I’m just speculating here), MotorTrend, a publication primarily known as a print magazine, announced the 2011 Porsche Cayenne as winner of their highly coveted SUV of the Year Award… on Facebook! Oh, the irony!!
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.
What’s a Robotics Rodeo? I have absolutely no idea, but it sounds pretty cool. Come to think of it, so does the title of the article that inspired this post, “Mini unmanned aircraft embark on missions with a Porsche named Sting.” You can see why it captured my attention, right? I mean come on, a Porsche named “Sting” working “missions” with unmanned mini airplanes! That has blog post written all over it…
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?
As most of you know, we’re big fans of social medial. It allows you to connect with people in a very personal way as well as share content and information about your favorite brand such as Porsche. In fact, if you want, you can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr or Linkedin. But I digress…
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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