alcoholiday

0-60 in 5.6s. how fast does one really need to get little taylor to soccer practice?

pollax

I don't know but that thing is ugly as hell.

alcoholiday

when i first heard i thought "wow, it'll look like a 911 on monster truck wheels. yuck"

damned if, from the front, it doesn't look like a 911 on monster truck wheels.

protegeboy78

5.6 is fast but i just found an electric car that does 0-60 in 4.6 seconds, looks pretty cool too. i'll try and find the url again and post it.

roswel

performance wise it's not any different than the bmw X5 or the benz ml55. they're all useless. for that matter so is any porsche or ferrari. do you really need to go 200+ mph when the speed limit is 70 or so? whatever sells they make. and i'll take a supercar any day of the week. i like that benz sport-ute inspired by the german military. that thing is sick. boxy is cool. the new volvo is nice too.

Mazdaboy42

Unfortuantly, until this point I would have to argue with you, porsche has never really sold out until now, maybe with the boxster, but that wasn't as obvious as this. They typical make high dollar cars that have a rare factor and sell to a true enthusist, but now they have jumped on the suv bandwagon, and now they should be beat with a bat They are leading themselves to their own downfall.

I would also have to disagree with the Boxy mercedes looking good, I think it is fugly; but that is pure personal preference.

leungwingkei

I think Porsche amongst other companies have lost their direction and image. I know how important it is to tap into new markets to earn revenue, but they must also be faithful to their purpose. A Porsche is not renowned for its straight line acceleration capabilities but rather its handling prowess. Maybe this Porsche SUV may handle well, but that's only compared to other SUVs. There's no way it can handle at the level of the 911, Boxters. And any SUV with enough power can break the 0-60 in under 6. But I guess they wouldn't be so happy with publishing their slalom speeds.

I think Porsche has lost it's charisma in almost all its cars, albeit by putting too many electronic aids in them so no longer does the driver drive the car, but the car "drives itself". A 400hp 911 Turbo with a 5 speed auto is an example. IMO no one should control so much horsepower without knowing how to work a manual. Electronic aids do work, but only to an extent, the rest relies on driver skill, and if there isn't any, people will overestimate their abilities in such a car and get into trouble.

Enthuisists are flocking away from Porsche already to Ferrari which still have the raw and untamed character in them which relies on the driver rather than electronics to tame.

roswel

i never meant to imply that porsche had previously sold out. the comment about making what sells has always applied, wether you sell out or not. there have been many a porsche model that has come and gone but it's the long time sellers that stay. as for it being an enthusiasts car i realize this as well, especially considering the porsche gt2 is my fav car of all time. however the fact is it is still no more necassary than a sport-ute that can go 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. see my point?

Mazdaboy42

yeah man sorry about the miscommunication, I agree 100% percent that they are always striving to make better cars that will sell and now I believe that this is what you are saying

And yes there is no need for suv that can go 0-60 in 5.6 secs

turbonium959

I would agree with most of you about the idea how Porsche is loosing its image, and it is true with Boxster - a Carrera with half of the potential, and half the shared parts. And it is not like the old days - "race on Sunday, and sell on Monday." But I think Porsche does have a potential in producing a Cayenne. Porsche has a great history in racing, and that is where their cars are derived from. All the technology that Porsche uses on the race track is often times found in their street cars. And this is where my point comes in. Porsche has always raced off-road. The 959 Paris-Dakkar win, and Porsche has a club that rallies every year. Therefore, it is a good idea for Porsche to introduce a 4x4. They have more technology and experience in this area than Mercedes or BMW. Porsche has been developing this car for more then five years. And since the SUVs are hot sellers now, it is the ideal time for Porsche to introduce an SUV with a name that has been to the proving grounds and back many times. Because if you say to me that you race your Carrera off-raod, I would call you crazy! Why not take it out on a long and windening country road and beat the hell out of it there? But if you were to say that you were off-roading in the Cayenne, that make more sence. I think it has been a very long Sunday for Porsche, and Monday is now, and that is why Cayenne is here.
Though this is my opinion. I am a Porsche fan and enthusiast, and one day hope to have one. So if you have another opinion, let me know, I would love to hear what you have to say.

turbonium959

Ferrari just like Porsche have as many electronic sysems and gadgets. 456M GTA is not an exception, with almost 500 bhp and an automatic trasmission. All this technology that Porsche or Ferrari is putting in their street cars is taken from race cars. Which in some respect also lost some of its image and carisma. racing today in not nearly exciting and its all about about money these days.
Though, what ever it is in their cars on the race track, is used in the street cars. Its what attracts the attention, and thus bringing the profit. But my opinion about the Cayenne is clearly (I hope) described in the post above.