Some like it hot

Porsche's new off-roader has a close affinity with the prestige vehicle-maker's sports car, reports motoring editor ALASTAIR SLOANE.

The Porsche Cayenne, the sports utility four-wheel-drive the carmaker says will offer unparalleled refinement in the off-road segment, was unveiled for the first time at this week's Geneva motor show and will go on sale in New Zealand in February next year.

Two models will be available, the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. No word on price yet but expect the "S" to be about $180,000 and the Turbo $240,000 plus.

Porsche describes the Cayenne as a "totally new design incorporating many impressive, pioneering technologies. Its entire character reflects its close affinity with the Porsche sports cars.

"As well as offering the driver and up to four passengers sports-car standards of performance, agility, handling and braking, the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo feature the latest chassis and suspension design developments that yield standards of ride quality and refinement never before available in this vehicle category."

Worldwide demand for the first off-roader from the legendary German carmaker has been strong since Porsche confirmed the project about three years ago.

Porsche New Zealand general manager Grant Smith is holding 55 orders for the Cayenne, all confirmed sight unseen. He expects demand to grow now that the Cayenne is visible.

"It's that traditional Porsche thing," said Smith. "People who have had positive experiences with Porsche before often want the latest model.

"As soon as Porsche came out with the 911Turbo, people were ringing up saying they wanted one."

Smith said many Cayenne buyers would be current Porsche owners.

"They might have a four-wheel-drive like the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class or Range Rover in the garage and now they want the Porsche off-roader.

"Demand for the Cayenne is a statement about the strength of the brand."

The off-roader is powered by an all-new 4.5-litre V8 engine mated to a six-speed manual/automatic Tiptronic S transmission with a low-range ratio.

It uses full-time four-wheel-drive along with a differential lock and electronic stability aids. Its braked towing rating is 3500kg.

The naturally aspirated engine in the Cayenne S produces 250kW (340bhp) and 420Nm of torque. The boosted unit in the Turbo delivers 331kW (450bhp) and a whopping 620Nm.

The "S" gets from zero to 100km/h in 7.2s and on to a top speed of 242km/h. The Turbo does the sprint in 5.6s and goes on to 266km/h. The Turbo is distinguished by extra air intakes in the front, power domes in the bonnet and four tailpipes.

Porsche says both Cayenne engines out-perform exhaust emission limits, including Europe's strict EU4 standard that will come into force from 2005.

How big is the Cayenne compared with opposition like the new Range Rover? Picture the difference: the Cayenne S is 4782mm long, 1928mm wide and 1699mm high. The Turbo gains an extra 4mm in length because of its different exhaust system.

The new Range Rover is 4950mm long, 1956mm wide (not including door mirrors) and 1863mm high. The current Range Rover is 4713mm long, 1889mm wide and 1818mm high.

The Porsche was an early attraction at Geneva, along with the RC concept from Peugeot, the drop-top version of the PT Cruiser from DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen's new luxury model, the Phaeton.

The RC is a two-plus-two model made from carbon impregnated directly on to honeycomb panels, formed and baked into an autoclave.

This self-supporting shell incorporates a steel rollover bar and forms a rigid assembly, including the roof, to which are attached the front wings, the hoods and the two "beetle winged" doors. The manufacturing method means the car weighs just 950kg.

Peugeot developed two six-speed manual models - the black RC Spades and its 133kW/202Nm 2-litre petrol engine and the red RC Diamonds and its 129kW/400Nm 2.2-litre HDi diesel. Both were dubbed "card sharps."

The RC is 4300mm long, 1800mm wide and 1150mm high and sits on a 2800mm wheelbase and the front and rear tracks are 1600mm and 1500mm. Analysts say the RC points to a future Peugeot model. Why? At Geneva in 1998, six months before the production of the 206, Peugeot unveiled a soft-top concept car modelled on the 206. Two years later, the 206CC became a reality.

The same with Chrysler. It showed off a soft-top concept of the PT Cruiser called the Convertible Styling Study in America last year and announced a year later at Geneva that it would build it.

"We were overwhelmed by the positive consumer and media response when we took the wraps off the original Convertible Styling Study," said Dieter Zetsche, Chrysler Group president and CEO.

The new Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible will be yet another variation of the brand's original retro model - a "segment buster" in Chrysler speak - which began production just two years ago.

Said Chrysler executive Tom Marinelli: "This is uncharted territory in the convertible segment. No one else can offer cool PT Cruiser styling with the utility and flexibility to change from a four-seater to a two-seater with unexpected cargo volume. This is yet another segment buster that we anticipate will do well in the convertible market."