Malignant Rumors: VW Planning to Reshape Porsche's Model Portfolio, Drop Cayenne and Panamera?

The biggest of the boardroom battles between VW and Porsche may be over, but that hasn't done much to stop the usual rumors from making the rounds. First, Germany's Autobild reported that VW CEO Martin Winterkorn was pushing for a couple of volume vehicles - a baby Boxster and junior Cayenne - and a third, Panamera-based, model. More recently, however, Car magazine is claiming that VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech wants to take the Porsche brand in another direction, pushing it back to its roots.

How? By killing off the Cayenne and Panamera once they have run through their respective life cycles, the argument being that VW AG produces more than enough sedans and SUVs already.

The big questions are: 1) How would people feel if Porsche aced its controversial (if popular) Cayenne and the new Panamera, and instead concentrated on strictly building sports cars? and2) What sort of lineup would we be looking at?

After all, a baby Boxster would be right in line with the old Porsche philosophy, and a larger GT would help make use of the Panamera's platform if the humpback saloon did indeed bite the dust. Of course, no one but the suits within the company know what's really going on, but it's always fun to speculate.

By Phil Alex

Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had an obsession with cars and travel. Currently he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded. If for any reason you are inclined to vent some more, check out more of his posts on the Examiner here.

-->Read More...

Porsche Cayenne Diesel gets a boost from SpeedART

SpeedART, a Porsche tuning specialist based in Germany, has given the Cayenne Diesel a comprehensive performance makeover with engine, chassis, interior and body upgrades. The company names this proposal the TITAN DTR 310. The starting point is of course the Cayenne's 240 HP 3.0-liter V6 diesel with buyers being offered a choice of three different power kits with 280 HP, 290 HP and 310 HP.

The first two engine packages include a retuned ECU while the most powerful version adds a larger turbo. Prices for the power kit start from €1,990 or about $2,800.

There's also a new sport exhaust system especially made for the V6 diesel and a lowering module for the air suspension or alternatively, a fully adjustable sport suspension plus 22-inch alloy wheels shod in 275 or 295/30 ZR22 tyres.

On the outside, the TITAN DTR 310 has been treated with a full bodykit that includes a front spoiler with additional fog lights, side skirts, day time running lights and head light covers plus a new rear apron.

The German tuner also created a bespoke interior for the Cayenne Diesel using a variety of premium upholstery and sporty accessories. More specifically, the dashboard, center armrest and door panels are covered in Alcantara with contrasting yellow stitches while the same material has been used on the new three-spoke steering wheel with F1-shit paddles.

The new turbo-boost gauge top of the center console, the specific floor mats and the yellow-colored instrument dials complete the interior package.

-->Read More...

French Tuner Outfits Porsche Cayenne with a Wide Body Kit

Former editor-in-chief of French tuning magazine 'Modify' and now owner of his own tuning firm, Jeremie Paret, has released a new wide body kit for the Porsche Cayenne. The styling package that bears the name 'Balrog' gives the German SUV a new nose complete with Cayenne Turbo side lights and fog lights with angel eyes. There's also chunkier side skirts, a roof spoiler and a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser while the widened fenders house larger alloy wheels.

For those that want more, Jeremie Paret's homonymous tuning company also offers a custom interior, engine mods and various other individual accessories.

-->Read More...

Porsche Cayenne V6 Diesel Receives Power Boost and Aero Kit from Techart

Following its debut at the Geneva Salon earlier this year, Porsche tuning specialist Techart has released new details on its souped-up Cayenne V6 Diesel. The German company's comprehensive tuning program for Stuttgart's first-ever production diesel model covers everything from engine and chassis conversions to interior and aerodynamic styling upgrades with buyers being able to buy Techart's Cayenne as new or add the kit to existing vehicles.

Beginning with the engine, Techart's power kit boosts the output of the Cayenne's 3.0-litre diesel from 240HP to 290HP while peak torque rises from 550Nm to 630Nm (465 lb-ft) at 2,200 rpm, with more than 500Nm being available from around 1,100 rpm to beyond 4,000 rpm.

The tuner claims that while 0 to 60mph sprint time drops from 8.3 seconds to 7.7 seconds, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption on the combined cycle remain unchanged at 244g/km and 30.4mpg UK (9.3lt/100 km or 25.3mpg US) respectively.

For cars fitted with air suspension, Techart offers a new suspension control module that lowers the vehicle, reducing roll and further improving aerodynamics. The Cayenne Diesel rides on new 21-inch alloy wheels fitted with Michelin Diamaris 4X4 XL 295/35 R21 tires.

Complementing the chassis and engine upgrades, is a full aero kit with a front panel with a deeper front spoiler, side skirts and a new rear apron with an integrated diffuser.

The package also comprises of headlight and tail lamp trims, twin double oval exhaust pipes, a three-spoke TECHART sports steering wheel with a Porsche airbag, and interior trim upgrades that include light-weight aluminum pedals and footrest and leather edged luxury logo floor mats.

Buyers can also opt for 22-inch body color wheels shod in 295/30 R22 Continental tyres, an Aero or Turbo-look bonnet, plus numerous interior options ranging from individual trim components to customized leather upholstery.

In the UK, the Cayenne Diesel with Techart's Aerokit 1 package that includes the exterior and interior upgrades is priced as new from £53,000 ($85,500 or €61,500) while adding the engine updates rises the price to £55,500 ($88,700 or €63,900.

For customers that already own a Cayenne Diesel, the Aerokit 1 can be fitted from £15,000 ($24,200 or €17,500) and the 290HP engine kit from £2,500 ($4,000 €2,900).

[Source: Carscoop]

-->Read More...

Porsche Cayenne Modded by Russia's Status Design

Sometimes, in their attempt to create a proposal uniquely different, tuners go overboard, way overboard. Such seems to be the case with Russian tuner, Status Design and their Porsche Cayenne project that is still in the works. For now, we've only got a trio of renderings to go by, but the aesthetic result is not what we'd call promising. The Russian tuner proposes a 'Fast and Furious' style full bodykit with a completely new front nose, side skirts and even C-pillar wings rounded off by a new set of alloy wheels and two-tone paint schemes. Hit the jump to check out the rest of the pics.



[Via: Carmod]

-->Read More...