2012 Porsche Cayenne as it was to be known

As the Porsche company approached the 21st century, they realised they were missing out on what was becoming a sizable market sector, namely the mid sized crossover market. Up until this point the sector had been dominated by brands such as Land Rover and Jeep. However, since the introduction of the Mercedes ML in 1997 and the BMW X5 in 1999 it was becoming obvious to Porsche that they were missing out on something.

Consequently Porsche designed and introduced its own interpretation of the type in 2002. Porsche were able to call on other similar models within its stable including the Audi Q7 and the Volkswagen Touareg for inspiration and know how, to allow it to develop a rival for the BMW and Mercedes offerings. Also, with the advent of the Porsche Cayenne as it was to be known, Porsche offered something that had not been available in a Porsche since the discontinuation of the Porsche 928 in 1995, namely a V8 engine.

Swotti - Porsche Cayenne, The most relevant opinions

Hybrid SUVs have been around for a while, but it is a fairly new concept for Porsche. The new auto-stop release is especially significant. This function will stop the car if it waits too long in traffic, helping to reserve energy. Once the brake has been released, the vehicle will start up again. In the United States, this function must be activated by the driver. In Europe, this mode is already activated, but it can also be disable. This feature is an appealing selling point with the declining economic conditions.

Porsche Cayenne Pics

The price tag is the main drawback of the Cayenne. The standard model costs 46,000 dollars, while additional components can raise the price all the way up to 100,000 dollars. However, if you have the money to afford this car, it is certainly an enjoyable and luxurious ride.

Photos: Mansory Porsche Cayenne