BY MABUYANE KEKANA
There are many life pleasures that human being share across cultural divide. For me the automobile and music are undoubtedly some of the greatest pleasures of life. This brings me to the recent launch of the new Porsche Cayenne. Even though a lot about the Cayenne has changed but a lot of it is a continuation of the original car that was unleashed into the world in the early to mid 2000s. The third generation Cayenne continues was unapologetic on the wet Cape Town roads. The performance prowess even under such conditions was perfect example of what the German brand has been able to master over the years as a luxury car brand known its purist performance and safety element.
After an afternoon of high drama at OR Tambo Airport, we finally arrive in Cape Town, a little over two hours behind schedule. We are whisked to the hotel 30 minutes away from Cape Town airport. The freezing wet weather just like the delayed flight drama back at OR Tambo, does not make life any easier.
Most of us who have been operating within the motor industry know the drill by now. Porsche South Africa, prefer an early start as they follow a certain traditional launch route out to Gansbaai (towards Humansdorp). So Soon after supper everyone disappears to their rooms for a good night rest for the long drive ahead the following day.
The Cayenne is a Porsche through and through. Throughout the almost 500km drive to Gansbaai and back to Cape Town, the Cayenne proved to have grown to an even a more powerful SUV.
Three models were available on launch, the Cayenne Turbo, the Cayenne S and the Cayenne.
My driving partner and I decided to work our way from top to bottom. The turbo is unforgiving, it is brutal in its mannerism, and the more we pushed it the more it asked to be pushed and gave more. As we roared our way through Franschhoek pass, it became apparent that the Cayenne is the child of the Porsche family. That massive body went around the corners like a sedan, one would expect such a body to bounce around aimlessly. Based on the iconic 911 sports car, the brand’s SUV has been enhanced visually and features mixed tyres, as well as rear-axle steering for the first time. On-road capabilities of the model are also further improved thanks to active all-wheel drive as standard, Porsche 4D Chassis Control, three-chamber air suspension and the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) electronic roll stabilisation system. Despite its significantly extended range of equipment, the Cayenne S weighs up to 65 kilograms less than its predecessor and remains perfectly suited to off-road use.
ENGINES AND PRICES
Cayenne: six-cylinder turbo engine 250kW and 450Nm
R1 142 000
Cayenne S: 2.9-litre V6 biturbo 324kW and 550Nm
R1 296 000
Cayenne Turbo: four-litre V8 biturbo 404kW and 770Nm
R2 158 000
