Porsche Cayenne hits quarter million
March 10, 2009 by David Twomey
Love it or loathe it a lot of people want to be seen driving a Porsche Cayenne and last week the German company built its 250,000 Cayenne at its Leipzig plant, reaching the mark after the first Cayenne was built in 2002.
Interestingly, and a sign of the times, the 250,000 Porsche Cayenne was a diesel
“The introduction of the Cayenne as our third model line was an important strategic step for Porsche,” explained Dr Wendelin Wiedeking, chairman of the board of Porsche AG.
“The five-seat SUV is not only a great addition to the range for our many long-term Porsche customers, but it also opens up to us an entirely new customer segment,” he added.
Porsche says that thanks to its typical Porsche genes, the easy-to-handle Cayenne uniquely combines sportiness with robustness and absolute off-road capability.
Porsche sold 150,000 vehicles worldwide from the first generation Cayenne and since the market launch of the second generation in March 2007, has been able to increase sales even further.
Australia is an important market for Porsche’s SUV and since local sales began in 2003, some 2861 Cayennes have been sold here (according to VFACTS figures to the end of February 2009).
Porsche recently expanded production at the Leipzig plant to meet increased worldwide demand for the Cayenne.
The local Cayenne range will expand to six models next month with the introduction of the Cayenne Diesel.
“The Cayenne has been a critical car for Australia,” said Porsche Cars Australia managing director, Michael Winkler.
“Since the introduction of the Cayenne we have been able to offer our sports car customers the sporting thrills in a five-seater Porsche the whole family can enjoy.
“All our Cayenne models blend typical Porsche on-road driving dynamics with the type of off-road capability that enables the car to go anywhere in Australia.”
Print it: 
50 of those deleted comments were from the three usual suspects. It’s not like it’s a majority, just a vocal and annoying minority.
The comments moderated were in breach of the CarAdvice Comments “Code of Conduct”.
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Regards, CA.
VOC,
Yes but Toyota seem to be particularly sensitive to any negative comments.
And besides, many of those 60 comments deleted, from the prius article, weren’t negative to toyota or hybrid, but spoke of the Prius not being a car suited to may people.
Matt,
So why were all the comments discussing the praticality, or lack of, Prius as an everday family car deleted?
Comments such as “can a prius tow anything?” are valid and relevant to the topic.
It’s just manipulation of public comment by moderation.
Concerned,
I am not going to enter in to a debate with you in the comments section of an unrelated article.
If you have an issue with the Code of Conduct you may contact CA via the Contact Us section at the top of the page.
Matt.
I think the red Cayenne with the beige interior in the article looks very attractive.
Fuel efficent turbo diesel, smart handling Cayenne especially when fitted with their adaptive suspension, classy looks and pedigree, what’s not to like ?
Buck,
I actually think that the above photos do them no justice at all. In fact they look rahter ordinary in them and wouldn’t entice any buyers.
On the road however…..
I like the Cayenne. I can see why people don’t but it is quite competent and I have actually taken one off road and it is surprisingly excellent. I would buy the diesel one. I don’t like the front bumper on any other than the base ones, it makes them look weird. I think the front is really the only reason that people have to call it ugly because the rest is quite a good shape really. It would be handsome if they just redesigned the front. And it still looks better than what is to my mind, ugliest in class – the Lexus RX.
I think it just comes back to people not liking the idea of a Porsche SUV but I don’t mind because it all it will do is help sales. The next model is meant to be smaller as well so that proves that they at least have sporting intentions.
Matt I don’t think anybody (well aslmost anybody) has a problem with the code of conduct – it is a good thing. It’s just the inconsitant manner with which it is applied and the disproportionate way it is applied to any comments that may offend our friends over at Toyota HQ. Just sayin’
Debate over!
Alex, since when is the RX in Cayenne’s class??
Even though the look of the new Cayenne is an improvement compared to the original.. I would much rather prefer the new BMW X6.
Because when you get into the $80-$100K+ price range I doubt that there would be that many buyers who are particularly concerned about the cars “off road capabilities” it’s mostly about image…. if you want to go off road buy a Bowler!
Well Dan, they’re roughly the same size and they’re roughly the same price (for the engine you get). I would say that they were in competition. However, the RX just got bigger and the Cayenne is going to get smaller so they won’t be for long. I would always take the Porsche though.
Alex, the RX is not in the same class. RX is against the Mer M, BMW X5, Volvo X60, Tribeca. The Porsche is up against the likes of the Toureg, Q5, LX 570 (Lexo Cruiser) etc.
That may be so Tim.. but; unlike Audi Porsche/VW and BMW etc who designed the Q5/Q7 Cayenne.Touareg and X5/X6 to be a Luxurious Sports Utility Vehicle from the outset; with all the design engineering and performance characteristics that they [the Germans] are known for
Toy-Lexus took the Landcruiser added a handful of extra features not to mention a $50K premium in an attempt to match them.
Because as far as i am aware the Porsche/Touareg; Q7 or the X5/X6 don’t share their platform with a lower ranked entry level model
I mean its like Holden taking a Commodore dropping in a 7.0 litre V8 whacking on a bodykit and hoping to be a serious competitor to the BMW M5 or the C63?
Tim, you’ve got it all wrong. For a start, the Tribeca doesn’t even come into it.
The Lexus LX only really has one rival, the Range Rover Vogue and I don’t mean this simply because I own one, but the Range Rover leaves it for dead in every situation other than maybe if it turns on in twenty years without a problem.
The Cayenne is in competition with the BMW X5, The Mercedes M Class, Lexus RX, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Range Rover Sport and the Volvo XC90.
The Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 are in competition with the Mercedes GLK, the BMW X3 and the Land Rover Freelander.
Allow me to explain. For a start, The Cayenne, Touareg and the Q7 all share the same platform and they all have the 3.6 Petrol and 3.0 Diesel in common. That kind of puts them all in the same class already. The X5 and M Class are obvious competitors to the Q7 and the Lexus is also another competitor here. The Volvo XC60 is a compact SUV, the XC90 is full sized and goes with the X5/M Class/Q7 pack.
I know that size differs in all these cars and it is confusing but I am absolutely sure.
I think the Q7 would be the pick of the bunch for me, if I was in the market for one of those SUV soccer mum type cars. Probably the best looking car out of all of them in my opinion. The Cayenne just look awkward.