This is the new Porsche Cayenne testing at the Nurburgring, which the German car maker hopes will remain its best-selling and most profitable model when it goes on sale next year. The pictures are the most revealing yet and show the car virtually undisguised.
On the outside, Michael Mauer’s design team has given the Cayenne a much more curvaceous and fluid exterior, as well as trying to relate the big SUV to the 911’s classic design language.
See all the Porsche Cayenne spy pictures
Aside from the distinct ‘hip’ over the rear wheel, the car’s sides are heavily pinched inwards to try to reduce the car’s visual bulk. The remodelled front also gets a 911-shaped bonnet, which tapers to a narrow opening between the Panamera-style headlights.
These pictures show that the lozenge-shaped tail-lights wrap right around into the rear wings, again hinting at the 911.
Inside, the interior is all new and expected to be of much higher perceived quality. Sources say it will use some of the interior sub-assemblies used in the Panamera.
Under the skin, the biggest changes will be the reworked direct-injection V8 engines first seen in the Panamera.The normally aspirated V8 will offer 395bhp and an expected 0-62mph time of around 5.0sec, while the turbocharged V8 will offer 493bhp and a 0-62mph time of around 4.3sec. The range-topping Turbo S will again offer 550bhp.
A hybrid Cayenne was signed off for production in early 2008 and it is expected to be unveiled at the launch of the new model.
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