Overview

Recalls are issued for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Manufacturers or importers seek to inform the original buyer if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. However, manufacturers or importers may not have the contact details of subsequent owners. Please note that the recalls below are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.

Recalls: Porsche 9J1 Taycan

2019-21 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: software fault and loss of power

In September 2021, recall campaign AMB5 was issued for 2019-21 Porsche Y1A Taycan and Y1B Taycan Cross Turismo vehicles. Due to a software fault in the power electronics control unit, a loss of motive power may occur while driving. This condition could increase the risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-001680.

2020-21 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: impaired access to ISOFIX anchors

In March 2022, recall campaign ANA4 was issued for 2020-21 Porsche 9J1 Taycan vehicles. In these vehicles, the wiring harness for the rear seatbelt buckle may impair access to the ISOFIX child seat anchoring system and prevent the child seat from being secured correctly – this increased the risk of injury to occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005328.

2019-21 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: restraint systems may not function

In June 2022, recall campaign ANA5 was issued for Porsche Y1A Taycan, Y1B Taycan Cross Turismo and Y1C Taycan Sport Turismo vehicles. In these vehicles, the protective fabric covering for the front seat wire harness could be damaged when the seats were adjusted. If this occurred, the airbag warning light in the instrument cluster would illuminate. Furthermore, the restraint systems may not function correctly – this increased the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005445.

2021-22 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: front air-spring strut could dislodge

In January 2023, recall campaign ANB8 was issued for 2021-22 Porsche Y1A Taycan and Y1B Taycan Cross Turismo vehicles. In these vehicles, the air-spring strut on the left and right of the front axle may not meet manufacturing specifications. This could cause the front strut to become dislodged and release air from the air spring, resulting in a loss of vehicle control. If this occurred, there was an increased risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005598.

2022-23 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: high voltage battery fire hazard

In October 2023, recall campaign APB2 was issued for 2022-23 Porsche 9J1 Taycan vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, there was a possibility of insufficient sealing between the high voltage battery casing and battery cover – this could lead to moisture entering the high voltage battery. If sufficient moisture entered the high-voltage battery, arcing could occur – this could cause a fire, posing a risk to vehicle occupants, other road users, bystanders and property. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005792.

2019-23 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: defective cells in high voltage battery

In May 2024, recall campaign ARA4 was issued for Porsche Y1A Taycan, Y1B Taycan Cross Turismo and Y1C Taycan Sport Turismo vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective. Over time, a short circuit could cause a thermal overload and result in a vehicle fire. A vehicle fire posed a risk of injury to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders, and damage to property. Until the repair was carried out, owners were advised to temporarily limit the high-voltage battery to 80% of maximum charge. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005958.

2019-24 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: defective cells in high voltage battery #2

In May 2024, recall campaign ARA5 was issued for Porsche Y1A Taycan, Y1B Taycan Cross Turismo and Y1C Taycan Sport Turismo vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective. Over time, a short circuit could cause a thermal overload and result in a vehicle fire. This potential defect could be identified with an initial check. A vehicle fire posed a risk of injury to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders, and damage to property. Until the check was completed, owners were advised to temporarily limit the high-voltage battery to 80% of maximum charge – this minimised the potential risk and also protected the battery. Owners were advised to contact their Official Porsche Centre as it may be possible to conduct the check via over-the-air services, without the need for a workshop visit. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005975.

2019-24 Porsche 9J1 Taycan: defective front brake hoses

In July 2024, recall campaign ARB0 was issued for 2019-24 Porsche 9J1 Taycan vehicles (model codes Y1A, Y1B and Y1C). Due to a manufacturing defect, the front brake hoses may be defective. This could cause a brake fluid leak which would impair braking performance increase the risk of a collision. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-006030.

Problems and faults: Porsche 9J1 Taycan

Overview

This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.

To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.

Problems and faults: Porsche 9J1 Taycan

No troubleshooting information is currently available for the Porsche 9J1 Taycan.

Review: Porsche 970.I Panamera (2009-13)

Overview

Released in October 2009, the Porsche 970 Series I (970.I) Panamera was a four-seat liftback. Manufactured in Leipzig, Germany, the 970 Panamera was initially available with a 4.8-litre direct-injection V8 petrol engine, in naturally aspirated and turbocharged form (the Panamera S, 4 S and Turbo variants). In July 2010, the range was expanded with models powered by a 3.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine for the Panamera and Panamera 4 models. In the second half of 2011, the range was further expanded with the introduction of S Hybrid, Diesel and Turbo S variants (in August, September and October, respectively). In April 2012, the Panamera GTS was released.

The Diesel variant and all models fitted with the double clutch transmission (DCT, or PDK) transmission featured an ‘Auto Start-Stop’ system which could automatically shut-down the engine when the car came to rest and restart when the driver released the brake.

Dimensions and suspension

The Panamera was 4970 mm long, 1931 mm wide, 1418 mm tall and had a 2920 mm long wheelbase.

The Panamera had double wishbone front suspension, multi-link rear suspension and the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system which consisted of continually variable dampers and three selectable control maps: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. In the sport modes, the Panamera provided greater throttle response, faster steering ratios, the double clutch transmission would hold gears for longer when accelerating and downshift earlier and the Auto Start-Stop function was disabled; for the four-wheel drive models, more torque was also directed to the rear wheels.

4WD system

The Panamera’s four-wheel drive system utilised an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch – integrated in the gearbox – to distribute torque between the front and rear axles in a fully variable manner.  As such, there was no pre-determined torque split, with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system continually monitoring driving conditions. For example, if the rear wheels started to spin when accelerating, the multiple-plate clutch would intervene to direct more power to the front wheels; when cornering, the delivery of power to the front wheels was monitored to provide optimum lateral stability. The all-wheel drive system also included an automatic brake differential which, if the drive wheels began to spin, would brake the individual wheel with the higher level of slip.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the 970.I Panamera included two-stage dual front airbags, front knee airbags, seat-mounted front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control, trailer stability control, seatbelt pretensioners for the front and outer rear seats and front seatbelt load limiters. In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, the bonnet would also rise to cushion the pedestrian’s subsequent impact, while there were also two additional braking functions:

• ‘Brake Pre-Filling’, which closed the air gap between the brake pads and discs when sudden accelerator pedal lift-off was detected (improving initial brake performance); and,
• ‘Brake Assistant’, which detected when brake pedal pressure was applied quickly, but not with full force, and increased braking assistance.

Features: Panamera, Panamera Diesel, Panamera 4

Standard features for the Panamera, Panamera Diesel and Panamera 4 included 18-inch alloy wheels, a fourteen speaker Bose sound system with subwoofer, six disc CD/DVD player and auxiliary inputs (MP3/USB/iPod), satellite navigation with seven-inch colour screen, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, 14-way power adjustable front seats, front seat memory settings, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with washers, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, front fog lights, Bluetooth connectivity, split and flat folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, heated and power folding mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, power-operated park brake, ambient lighting, power sunroof, four 12 volt power outlets, trip computer, motion-sensing alarm and immobiliser. The standard braking package consisted of 360 mm front discs with six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers and 330 mm rear discs with four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers; all discs were inner-vented and grooved.

Features: Panamera S and 4 S

The Panamera S and Panamera 4 S were further equipped with front seat power lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, directional bi-xenon headlights, reversing camera, a power adjustable steering wheel with memory settings, tyre pressure monitoring and a two-way rear spoiler.

Features: Panamera GTS

The Panamera GTS was positioned between the 4 S and Turbo variants. Compared to the Panamera 4S, the GTS was powered by a modified 4.8-litre V8 engine which had higher tension valve springs, new camshafts and a revised inlet system for increased air flow beyond 3500 rpm; the inlet system had a ‘Sound Symposer’ which could direct intake noise into the interior when the ‘Sport’ button was pushed. The GTS was also fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/45 front and 285/40 rear tyres, adaptive air suspension (which provided an add-16 air volume in each spring to vary the spring rate), a 10mm-lower ride height and an upgraded braking package which consisted of composite brake discs made of a light aluminium brake cover connected with a grey-case iron friction ring; the front discs had a 390 mm diameter and the rear discs measured 350 mm.Compared to the Panamera 4 S, the GTS featured eighteen-way power adjustable and ventilated front seats, Alcantara headlining and Porsche’s ‘Sport Chrono Package’ which included a Sport Plus mode, stopwatch on the dashboard, a performance display with lap-timer and Launch Control. Visually, the GTS could be identified by its wider front air intakes and a four-way adjustable rear spoiler (as per the Turbo and Turbo S).

Features: Panamera Turbo and Turbo S

Compared to the GTS, the Panamera Turbo omitted the Sound Symposer, but featured heated rear seats and a proximity key. Furthermore, the Turbo was also fitted with:

• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), which minimised bodyroll through corners and included an electronically controlled rear differential with a variable locking effect;
• Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) Plus, which varied the torque split between the rear wheels in combination with the rear differential; and,
• An Overboost function within the Sports Plus mode which temporarily increased turbocharger pressure on downshifts or when the throttle was quickly applied to increase peak torque to 770 Nm from 3000-4000 rpm.

The Panamera Turbo S was distinguished by its 20-inch ‘Turbo II’ alloy wheels, two-tone leather interior, sports exhaust, daytime driving lights (four LEDs spaced out around the two round headlights) and Sport Chrono Package (see ‘Features: Panamera GTS’, above). In overboost mode, peak torque for the Turbo S increased to 800 Nm.

Panamera S Hybrid

Released in October 2011, the S Hybrid variant was fitted with a 34 kW electric motor between the engine and transmission which was powered by 1.7 kWh Sanyo-sourced nickel-metal batteries which powered the climate control, water and transmission pumps, braking and steering systems. Furthermore, the electric motor had an energy recuperation mode in which the motor would recharge under braking.

The Panamera S Hybrid could travel for 2km at speeds of up to 85km/h in its all-electric ‘e-Power’ mode if the battery was at least 30 per cent charged and could also shut-down the engine when coasting. The battery was also covered by a 300,000km or 12 year warranty (whichever expired first).

Brochures

• Brochure: Porsche 970.I Panamera (March 2009)
• Brochure: Porsche 970.I Panamera (July 2010)

Review: Porsche 970.II Panamera (2013-16)

Overview

Released in August 2013, the 970 Series II (970.II) Panamera introduced several changes:

• New 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engines for the S and 4 S variants (replacing 4.8-litre V8 engines);
• The S Hybrid was replaced by the plug-in S E-Hybrid which had a 70 kW electric motor and a 9.4  kWh litihium-ion battery (previously nickel metal hydride); and,
• For 2014 Diesel variants, a new 220 kW turbo-diesel engine.

Visually, the 970.II Panamera could be identified by its more prominent ‘linework’ at the front, larger air intakes, an increasingly swept-back rear window (for an extended silhouette), new bootlid and a wider rear window and spoiler. 

Panamera S E-Hybrid

The Panamera S E-Hybrid had a significantly larger battery than its S Hybrid predecessor and, when connected to an industrial outlet, could be charged in around two and a half fours via the integrated on-board charger and the standard Porsche Universal Charger. In its all-electric mode, the S E-Hybrid had an estimated range of 18-36 km. Nonetheless, the S E-Hybrid could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and had a top speed of 270 km/h.

Safety equipment

Compared to its 970.I predecessor, standard safety equipment for the 970.II Panamera was extended to include rear side airbags.

Features

Standard features for the Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera S E-Hybrid included 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/50 ZR18 front and 275/45 ZR18 rear tyres, a fourteen speaker sound system with a CD/DVD player (eleven speakers for the S E-Hybrid), MP3-compatibility and auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB), an in-built hard disk drive (HDD), satellite navigation system, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, power adjustable and heated front seats, a cooled glovebox, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with washers, daytime LED running lights, rear LED lights, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows, power adjustable and heated door mirrors with folding function, tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment, driver’s seat memory settings, illuminated vanity mirrors, courtesy lamps, 12 volt power sockets, an electrochromatic rear view mirror, a trip computer, motion-sensing alarm and an immobiliser.

The Panamera S and Panamera 4 S were further equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/45 ZR19 front and 285/40 ZR19 rear tyres, ventilated front seats with memory settings, directional headlights, a power adjustable steering column, additional memory settings (for the steering wheel and door mirrors) and tyre pressure monitoring; the Panamera S and 4S were also fitted with adaptive air suspension.

Beyond this, the Panamera GTS added contoured front sports seats with active bolsters, Alcantara seat trim, carbon fibre interior trim and alcantara headlining. The Panamera Turbo was differentiated by its 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/40 ZR20 front and 295/35 ZR20 rear tyres, leather seats, heated rear seats, a proximity key and woodgrain interior trim.

May 2015 update

In May 2015, standard features for the Panamera S, 4S, GTS and S E-Hybrid variants were extended to include digital radio (DAB+) and LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Lighting System Plus (PDLS+). The Panamera Turbo and Turbo S also received digital radio tuning, but not the LED headlights.

Related links

• Porsche Cars Australia: Porsche Panamera
• Wikipedia.org: Porsche 970 Panamera

Overview

Commencing production in November 2016, the Porsche 971 Panamera was initially as a four-door fastback, with a five-door estate (‘Sport Turismo’) following later in 2017. Manufactured in Leipzig, Germany, the Porsche 971 Panamera range initially consisted of the 4S and Turbo variants, followed by the 4S Diesel, standard Panamera, 4 and 4 E-Hybrid.

As per the table below, the Panamera variants were distinguished by their powertrains. To reduce fuel consumption, however, all engines had:

• An ‘auto start/stop’ function which could shut down the engine when the Panamera was stationary in traffic; and,
• A coasting function which could disengage the engine from the driveline when coasting to prevent engine braking.

For the Panamera Turbo, its V8 engine could shut down four-cylinders under light loads to reduce fuel consumption; for the Panamera 4S Diesel, only one of its variable turbine geometry turbochargers operated below 2700 rpm, with the other operating at engine speeds above this.

971 Panamera: all-wheel drive system

The Porsche Panamera’s four-wheel drive system utilised an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch – integrated in the gearbox – to distribute torque between the front and rear axles in a fully variable manner. As such, there was no pre-determined torque split, with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system continually monitoring driving conditions. For example, if the rear wheels started to spin when accelerating, the multi-plate clutch would intervene to direct more power to the front wheels. When cornering, the delivery of power to the front wheels is also monitored to provide optimum lateral stability. The all-wheel drive system also included an automatic brake differential which, if the drive wheels begin to spin, braked the individual wheel with the higher level of slip.

As an extra-cost option, the 971 Panamera could be specified with ‘Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus’ (PTV Plus) which consisted of an electronically-controlled, fully variable rear differential lock. Integrated into the all-wheel drive management system, PTV Plus would engage the rear differential lock if one of the rear wheels began to spin, thereby directing torque to the opposite rear wheel.

Body and dimensions: Porsche Panamera

The Porsche 971 Panamera was underpinned by Porsche’s MSB platform which featured a hybrid steel/aluminium bodyshell. To reduce mass, aluminium was also used for the Panamera’s bonnet, rear hatch, doors, side sections, roof and front wings. Compared to the Porsche 970 Panamera, the 971 Panamera wais 79 mm longer (at 5049 mm), 6 mm wider (1937 mm), 5 mm taller (1423 mm) and has a 30 mm longer wheelbase (2950 mm). Furthermore, the 971 Panamera had a drag co-efficient of 0.29 Cd and boot capacity of 495 litres.

Body and dimensions: Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Compared to the Panamera saloon, the Panamera Sport Turismo had a 5 mm higher roofline (at 1428 mm) and an elongated window line for greater headroom and easier ingress and egress. As standard, the Panamera Sport Turismo had three rear seats in a 2+1 configuration; as an option, however, the Panamera Sport Turismo could be specified in a four-seat configuration with two individual rear seats that had power adjustment. The three rear seat backrests could be folded down together or individually (in a 40:20:40 split) and unlocked electrically from the luggage compartment.

Luggage capacity for the Panamera Sport Turismo was 520 litres, an increase of around 50 litres relative to the Panamera saloon. With all backrests folded down, the Panamera Sport Turismo had a ‘virtually flat’ load floor and cargo volume of 1390 litres.

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo had an ‘adaptively extendible roof spoiler’ that operated in three states. At speeds below 170 km/h, the aerodynamic guide element would stay in its retracted position with an angle of minus seven degrees to reduce drag. Above 170 km/h, the roof spoiler would move to the ‘performance position’ with an angle of plus one degree to increase downforce. In the Sport and Sport Plus drive modes, however, the roof spoiler would automatically move to the performance position at speeds of 90 km/h and above. According to Porsche, the roof spoiler could generate additional downforce of up to 50 kg on the rear axle. Furthermore, the roof spoiler’s angle would switch to plus 26 degrees when the panoramic sliding roof was open at speeds of 90 km/h or above to reduce wind noise.

Suspension

The Porsche 971 Panamera has double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. The suspension also included:

• Adaptive air springs with three-chamber air technology; and,
• Porsche’s Active Suspension Management Technology (PASM). With continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of accelerometers, PASM offers selectable drive modes which also adjusted engine mapping, steering assistance and transmission behaviour.

As an extra-cost option, the 971 Panamera could also be specified with:

• ‘Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control’ (PDCC) which consisted of active anti-roll bars that responded to steering angle and lateral acceleration to provide a stabilising force that reduced body roll; and,
• Rear axle steering.

Steering

The Porsche 971 Panamera had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche 971 Panamera included dual front airbags, dual front knee airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags (Porsche Side Impact Protection System or POSIP), rear side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the Porsche 971 Panamera was fitted with an ‘active bonnet’ which had pyrotechnic actuators in the bonnet hinges. In the event of a pedestrian collision, the actuators deployed and locks kept the bonnet in a raised position to provide additional deformation space between the bonnet and hard structures beneath it.

The Porsche 971 Panamera Turbo was also fitted with:

• Lane Change Assist: used a radar to monitor traffic in adjacent lanes behind the Panamera and warn the driver of approaching traffic by illuminating LEDs in the corresponding door mirror; and,
• Lane Keeping Assist: used a forward-facing camera to monitor the Panamera’s position within its lane. In the event that the Panamera was about to depart from its lane without indicating, corrective steering inputs were applied to return the vehicle to the centre of its lane and the driver was alerted via steering wheel pulsations.

As an extra-cost option, the Porsche 971 Panamera could be specified with Porsche’s ‘night vision assistant’ which used a thermal imaging camera to detect people and large animals, and displays a colour highlighted warning indicator in the cockpit.

Brakes

The Porsche Panamera 4S and 4S Diesel had 360 mm by 36 mm ventilated front brake discs with six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers and 330 mm by 28 mm ventilated rear discs with four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers. The Porsche Panamera Turbo, however, had 410 mm by 38 mm front discs and 380 mm by 30 mm rear discs.

As an extra-cost option, the Panamera could be specified with the Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brake (PCCB) package which included 420 mm by 40 mm front discs and 390 mm by 32 mm rear discs.

Wheels and tyres

The Porsche Panamera, 4, 4S and 4S Diesel had 9.0J x 19-inch front alloy wheels with 265/45 ZR19 tyres and 10.5J x 19-inch rear alloy wheels with 295/40 ZR19 tyres. The Porsche Panamera Turbo, however, had 9.5J x 20-inch front alloy wheels with 275/40 ZR20 tyres and 11.5J x 20-inch rear alloy wheels with 315/35 ZR20 tyres.

As standard, the Porsche Panamera was fitted with a tyre repair kit rather than a spare wheel.

Features: Panamera and Panamera 4

Standard features for the Porsche 971 Panamera and Panamera included the Porsche Communication Management (PCM 4.1) system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, voice control and Apple Car Play smartphone integration. Beyond this, the audio system consisted of a 710 watt Bose surround sound system with fourteen speakers and subwoofer, digital radio (DAB) tuner, 3.5 mm auxiliary and USB input.

The Panamera and Panamera 4 were also fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels with 265/45 R19 front and 295/40 R19 rear tyres, four-zone climate control air conditioning, partial leather seats, fourteen-way power adjustable front seats, ventilated and heated front seats, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), LED daytime running lights, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors (Porsche’s ‘ParkAssist’), 40:20:40 folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, remote central locking with proximity key, power adjustable and heated door mirrors with power folding function, power windows, a power adjustable steering wheel (for height and reach), memory settings (for the front seats, steering column and door mirrors), auto-dimming mirrors, push-button start, electric parking brake, a 12 volt power socket, soft-close doors, illuminated vanity mirrors, a power-operated rear hatch, rear privacy glass, a panoramic glass sunroof, brushed aluminium door sills, tyre pressure monitoring, a trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

As standard, the Porsche 971 Panamera was equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) which can maintain a pre-set speed and automatically apply the brakes or accelerator to maintain a pre-determined distance from the vehicle ahead.

The 971 Panamera was also equipped with Porsche’s Surround View, a surround view camera system which can provide a bird’s eye graphical representation of the vehicle on the central display screen and show the proximity of nearby obstacles.

Features: Panamera 4S and 4S Diesel

Compared to the Panamera 4 and 4S, the Porsche Panamera 4S and 4S Diesel were further equipped with soft-close doors and an automatically-deploying rear spoiler.

Features: Panamera Turbo

Relative to the Panamera 4S and 4S Diesel, the Panamera Turbo was further equipped with Alcantara interior trim and the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) in which the LED matrix headlights had 84 image individual diodes that could be turned off or selectively dimmed to avoid dazzling the car ahead or oncoming traffic.

Review: Porsche Macan (2014-18)

Overview

Released in Australia in May 2014, the Porsche Macan is a mid-size SUV. Manufactured in Leipzig, Germany, the all-wheel drive Porsche Macan range initially consisted of S, S Diesel and Turbo variants. However, production of the Macan GTS commenced in January 2016 and the entry-level Macan with four-cylinder engine in June 2016.

Production of diesel-fuelled Porsche Macan vehicles was discontinued in February 2018.

Engines

Of the engines,

• For the Macan S, the 3.0-litre petrol engine has an aluminium block (96 mm bore, 69 mm stroke), an aluminium cylinder head, two turbochargers providing peak boost pressure of 1 bar (14.5 psi), direct fuel injection, dry sump lubrication, double overhead camshafts (per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder, Porsche’s VarioCam Plus (variable valve timing and camshaft control) and a compression ratio of 9.8:1. The engine for the Macan GTS had the same properties, though boost pressure is understood to have been slightly increased;
• The Macan Turbo engine has similar properties, but its 3.6-litre displacement was achieved by increasing stroke by 14 mm to 83 mm. Furthermore, peak boost pressure was raised to 1.2 bar (17.4 psi) and the compression ratio to 10.5:1; and,
• The Macan D diesel engine has a cast iron block, an aluminium cylinder head, common-rail injection via piezo injectors (operating at 2000 bar), a single turbocharger, double overhead camshafts (per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 16.8:1. To minimise tailpipe emissions, this engine utilises exhaust gas recirculation and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system which injects a urea solution (AdBlue) into the exhaust gases to convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water.

To minimise fuel consumption, all engines have:

• An ‘Auto Start-Stop’ function which can shut down the engine when the vehicle is stationary in traffic; and,
• A coasting function which disengages the drivetrain when the driver lifts off the throttle to eliminate engine braking.

A seven-speed double clutch transmission (DCT, or Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, PDK) is fitted as standard across the range.

Platform and dimensions

The Porsche Macan is 4681 mm long (4699 mm for the Macan Turbo), 1923 mm wide, 1624 mm tall and has a 2807 mm wheelbase; its drag coefficient was 0.35 Cd. Significantly, the Macan is underpinned by a new version of Volkswagen’s MLB platform; although the Macan was reported to be based on the Audi 8R Q5 platform, the 8R Q5 was underpinned by an older version of the MLB platform which is appreciably heavier; for comparable drivetrains, the Macan is around 130 kg lighter than the Audi 8R Q5 .

Suspension

The Macan has five-link front suspension with unequal length wishbones and self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension, adjustable dampers and conventional anti-roll bars front and rear. Beyond this, the Macan GTS and Turbo are fitted with ‘Porsche Active Suspension Management’ (PASM) which consists of continuously variable dampers and enables the driver to select from Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus control maps. Furthermore, the Macan Turbo has air spring suspension which can increase the ride height by 32 mm for off-road driving.

Drive modes

The Porsche Macan has selectable Normal, Sport and Sport Plus drive modes. In the Sport and Sport Plus modes, the Macan provides firmer damper settings, greater throttle response, faster steering ratios (for the electromechanical power-assisted steering), sportier gearshift programming and disables the Auto Start-Stop function. 

AWD system

The Porsche Macan is fitted with a ‘Porsche Traction Management’ (PTM) all-wheel drive system which utilised an electronically-controlled, multi-plate clutch. In this system, the rear axle is always driven and the front axle receives its drive torque from the rear axle, with this torque dependent on the locking ratio of the clutch.

The driver can also engage an off-road driving mode via a button in the centre console for speeds up to 80 km/h. When activated, the off-road driving mode:

• Pre-tensions the clutch to a greater degree for faster torque transfers;
• Increases the torque distribution to the front axle;
• Reduces throttle sensitivity; and,
• Adjusts gearshift points.

For descents, the Porsche Hill Control (PHC) system can be activated via a button in the centre console and maintains vehicle speed in the range of 3 km/h and 29 km/h.

As an extra-cost option, the Porsche Macan is available with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (or PTV Plus) which consists of a mechanical rear axle differential lock that can brake the inside rear wheel when cornering to enable cross-axle torque transfers.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche Macan includes dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Optional safety equipment for the Macan includes a Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Change Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control with Porsche Active Safe (collision warnings and automated braking).

From January 2016 production, the Lane Departure Warning system is fitted as standard.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the 2014 Porsche Macan 2.0 TFSI received a five star safety rating which included an 88 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 87 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the offset crash test, protection of the driver’s head, neck, thighs and feet were rated as good, though protection of the driver’s chest and lower left leg were rated as adequate (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury). In the side impact test, occupant protection was rated as good for all areas. In the more pole test, however, protection of the driver’s chest and abdomen were rated as adequate.

Brakes

The Macan S and Macan S Diesel are fitted with 350 mm by 34 mm front brake discs with six-piston calipers and 330 mm by 22 mm rear discs with single piston calipers.

The Macan GTS and Turbo have 360 mm by 36 mm front brake discs with six-piston calipers; while the Macan GTS has the same rear discs as the Macan S, the Macan Turbo has 356 mm by 28 mm rear discs (still with single-piston calipers).

Features: Macan S and Turbo

Standard features for the Macan S and Macan S Diesel include 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/55 R19 front and 255/50 R19 rear tyres, Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system including a seven-inch colour touch screen, satellite navigation with 3D maps and a 40 GB hard drive, a 235 watt sound system with 11 speakers, a CD/DVD player, digital radio and auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod), hard-disk drive, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, front seats with Alcantara centre panels, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, 40:20:40 split and folding rear seats, steering wheel gearshift paddles, remote central locking, power mirrors (with heating, folding and kerbside tilting on reverse), power windows, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a power-operated tailgate, 12 volt power sockets, a trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

The Macan Turbo is further equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels with 265/45 R20 front and 295/40 R20 rear tyres, a 545 watt Bose Surround Sound system with 14 speakers, a 200 watt active subwoofer and nine amplifier channels, leather seats, eighteen-way adjustable front sports seats with active bolsters, proximity key (i.e. keyless entry), push-button start, driver memory settings, ambient lighting, alcantara roof lining and brushed aluminium interior trim.

Extra-cost options for the Macan include ventilated front seats, a two-part panoramic roof and a Burmester High-End Surround Sound system with 16 speakers, an active subwoofer, an integrated 300 watt Class D amplifier and a total output of more than 1000 watts.

May 2015 update

In May 2015, standard features for the Macan were extended to include tyre pressure monitoring.

Features: Macan GTS

The Macan GTS will be fitted with 20-inch ‘RS Spyder’ alloy wheels that have a matt black paint finish, a Porsche Communication Management (PCM) connectivity and infotai Nment system with multi-touch monitor and GTS seats. Visual cues for the Macan GTS include exterior accents in black (high gloss above the waistline and in a matt finish for lower areas) and a Porsche ‘Sport Design’ package.

Macan: January 2016 production

From January 2016 production, standard features for the Australian-delivered Porsche Macan were extended to include the Porsche Communication Management system (PCM) with voice control, a digital radio tuner and three-zone climate control air conditioning.

Brochure

• Brochure: Porsche Macan (January 2014)

Related links

• Porsche Cars Australia: Porsche Macan
• Wikipedia.org: Porsche Macan

Review: Porsche Macan (2018-24)

Overview

Production of the updated Porsche Macan commenced in August 2018 and it was available to order in Australia from October 2018. Visually, the updated Porsche Macan could be identified by its new LED headlights and revised front mask which sought to make it appear wider. At the rear, the updated Macan had ‘four point’ design brake lights and a three-piece LED light strip. Four new paint finishes were also introduced: Miami Blue, Mamba Green Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic and Crayon.

According to Porsche, the updated Macan introduced an ‘optimised’ chassis and newly developed tyres with improved performance characteristics.

Safety equipment

For the Adaptive Cruise Control system, a new Traffic Jam Assist function was introduced. Traffic Jam Assist operated at speeds up to 60 km/h to provide partially automated acceleration and braking, and steering in slow-moving traffic.

Interior and features

Inside, the updated Macan featured a new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system which had a 10.9-inch HD touchscreen (previously 7.2-inch), and re-designed air vents that were positioned below the touchscreen. PCM provided access to new digital functions such as an online navigation system and intelligent voice control. As standard, the Macan was equipped with a ‘Connect Plus’ module for network connectivity – this module also enabled digital functions and services such as intelligent voice control and real-time traffic information for the navigation system.

Beyond these changes, standard features for Australian-delived Porsche Macan vehicles were extended to include fourteen-way ‘comfort’ seats with memory package, LED headlights, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, and Porsche’s ParkAssist with Surround View.

As an option, the Macan could be fitted with a ‘GT’ sports steering wheel as per the 991 911.

Related links

• Porsche Cars Australia: Porsche Macan
• Wikipedia.org: Porsche Macan

Review: Porsche 987.I Cayman (2006-08)

Overview

Released in February 2006, the Porsche 987 Series I (987.I) Cayman was a mid-engined, two-seat coupe. Manufactured in Stuttgart, Germany, the rear-wheel drive 987 Cayman was initially available with either a 2.7- or 3.4-litre horizontally-opposed (or flat) six cylinder petrol engine (the Cayman and Cayman S, respectively).

Engine

The horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engines featured two-piece (vertically split) aluminium blocks, integrated dry-sump lubrication, liquid cooling, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and Porsche’s VarioCam variable intake valve timing system. The 3.4-litre engine, however, was fitted VarioCam Plus which combined variable valve timing with two-stage intake valve lift via electro-hydraulically operated switchable tappets.

Dimensions and suspension

Sharing its mid-engined platform with 987 Boxster , the Cayman also had the same headlights, front fenders, boot lid, side doors and tail-lights as its convertible counterpart. Compared to the 987 Boxster, the 987 Cayman was 1 mm shorter (at 4341 mm), the same with and 13 mm taller (1305 mm); wheelbase length was also unchanged (2415 mm).

The Cayman had MacPherson strut suspension front and rear.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche 987.I Cayman included dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Features: 987 Cayman

Standard features for the Porsche 987.I Cayman included 17-inch alloy wheels, a nine speaker sound system with six-stack CD player, leather seats, power adjustable front seats, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, front and rear fog lamps, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, tinted windows, trip computer, immobiliser and a motion-sensing alarm.

The six-speed manual models were also fitted with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management Technology (PASM). With continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of acclerometers, PASM offered selectable ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes. In Sport mode, the suspension lowered the car by 10 mm and activated a firmer damper control map. In its normal setting, the PASM would automatically adjust to changes in driving style, becoming firmer in response to greater dynamic forces.

Features: Cayman S

Compared to the standard Cayman, the Cayman S was further equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels and climate control air conditioning.

Review: Porsche 987.II Cayman (2009-11)

Overview

Released in March 2009, the 987 Series II (987.II) Cayman introduced improved equipment levels, more powerful front brakes, 2.9-litre engines, direct-injection for the 3.4-litre engines and seven-speed double-clutch transmissions (DCTs, or Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, PDK).

Visually, the 987.II Cayman could be identified by its larger front intakes and twin-tube headlights. There was also greater differentiation between the variants as the S was fitted with twin tailpipes and aluminium-trimmed instruments.

Features

Compared to its 987.I predecessor, standard features for the 987.II Cayman were extended to include an MP3-compatible sound system with auxiliary inputs (USB and iPod), a six-disc CD/DVD player, satellite navigation with touchscreen display, rear parking sensors and driver’s seat memory settings.

2011 Cayman R

Based on the Cayman S, the lightweight Cayman R was released in February 2011. The Cayman R, however, had a revised exhaust system with a new head pipe and modified engine control which contributed to an increase in peak power and greater throttle response.

Compared to the Cayman S, the Cayman R was fitted with lightweight 19-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels, had a 20 mm lowered body and mass reduction measures included sports bucket seats with Alcantara, aluminium doors, reduced door trims (i.e. without storage compartments), door opening straps instead of levers and the omission of the instrument cluster cover and cupholders. As a result, the Cayman R had a DIN empty weight of 1295 kg, 55 kg lighter than the Cayman S.

The Cayman R was fitted with a rear axle differential lock with a 22 per cent locking value in traction and 27 per cent in propulsion. Furthermore, the more pronounced front spoiler lip and fixed rear spoiler reduced lift by around 15 per cent at the front axle and 40 per cent at the rear axle.

2011 Cayman S Black Edition

Released in August 2011, the Cayman S Black Edition had the same power outputs as the Cayman R and was fitted with 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels (finished in black) with wider 235/35 ZR19 front and 265/35 ZR19 rear tyres. Inside, the Black Edition featured embossed leather seats and scuff plates, directional bi-xenon headlights, daytime LED running lights, a leather dashboard lining and a ‘Sport Design’ steering wheel.

Brochures

• Brochure: Porsche 987.II Cayman (March 2010)
• Brochure: Porsche 987.II Cayman R (October 2010)

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Porsche 987 Cayman

Overview

Released in Australia in late 2016, the Porsche 718 Cayman was a mid-engined, two-door coupe. Manufactured in Stuttgart, Germany, the rear-wheel drive 718 Cayman and Cayman S were powered by 2.0- and 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed petrol engines, respectively (see table below).

The Porsche 718 Cayman GTS was available to order from October 2017, with deliveries commencing in March 2018.

DDP and DDN engines

For the 718 Cayman, the 1988 cc DDP four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine had an aluminium alloy block with a 91.0 mm bore and 76.4 mm stroke, in which the cylinder liners were coated in iron via a plasma beam (‘rotating single wire’ or RSW). Other features of the DDP engine included an aluminium alloy cylinder head with double overhead camshafts, ‘VarioCam Plus’ for variable intake and exhaust valve timing and lift, four valves per cylinder, direct injection via centrally positioned injectors at a pressure of up to 250 bar, cross-flow cooling, integrated dry sump lubrication and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. For the 718 Cayman S, however, the 2497 cc DDN engine had an extended bore of 102.0 mm. To reduce fuel consumption, both the DDP and DDN engines had an ‘auto start/stop’ function that would shut down the engine when the vehicle was stationary in traffic.

For the 718 Cayman, the turbocharger had a 50 mm diameter turbine wheel, 58 mm diameter compressor wheel and provided maximum boost pressure of 1.4 bar. For the 718 Cayman S, however, the turbocharger had a 55 mm diameter turbine wheel, 64 mm diameter compressor wheel and provided maximum charge pressure of 1.0 bar. The Cayman S also had variable turbine geometry in which adjustable vanes controlled the flow of exhaust gases onto the turbine wheels. At low engine speeds, the vanes would be nearly closed to build boost pressure and torque more quickly and, at high engine speeds, the guide vanes would open for greater flow.

The lateral air intakes behind the doors were used for induction of process air and for indirect intercooling. To reduce the temperature of the charged air, a heat exchanger was positioned on top of the engine and cooled using an auxiliary loop of the cooling system

When the Sport or Sport Plus modes were activated, the turbocharger could be ‘pre-conditioned’ in part-load situations by closing the bypass valve, retarding ignition timing and slightly opening the throttle – according to Porsche, this maintained momentary drive torque while increasing air throughput through the engine and charge pressure. When the driver applied full throttle, the higher charge pressure provided greater torque. The extent of ‘pre-conditioning’ differed according to whether Sport or Sport Plus drive modes were engaged.

The ‘Dynamic Boost’ function was activated when the driver briefly removed their foot from the accelerator pedal after full acceleration by keeping the throttle wide open and only stopping petrol injection – this prevented charge pressure from dropping completely for greater torque when the accelerator was depressed. In Normal mode, the Dynamic Boost function also improved engine response in quick throttle alternations, albeit with lesser effect.

Body and dimensions

Compared to the Porsche 981 Cayman , the 718 Cayman was 1 mm shorter (at 4379 mm) and 1 mm taller (1295 mm), though width (1801 mm) and wheelbase length (2475 mm) were unchanged. Like its predecessor, the chassis of the 718 Cayman had mixed aluminium/steel construction in which 44 per cent of the body-in-white consisted of aluminium (including the front body, floor and rear body, the doors and bootlid).

Changes relative to 981 Cayman

Relative to the Porsche 981 Cayman , the 718 Cayman could be identified by the ‘sharper profile’ for its nose, new bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, ultra-slim front lights above the air intakes and larger cooling air intakes. At the rear, the 718 Cayman had a wider appearance due to the high-gloss black accent strip between the redesigned tail-lights which featured ‘three-dimensional technology and four brake spots that appeared to float freely’.

Inside, the 718 Cayman had a new upper dashboard panel, a new steering wheel design as per the 918 Spyder and an updated Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system which was fitted as standard for Australian-delivered vehicles.

Suspension and PASM

The Porsche 718 Cayman had MacPherson strut suspension front and rear. Compared to the 981 Cayman, the 718 Cayman had re-tuned suspension for better lateral rigidity and wheel tracking. Furthermore, the shock absorbers were been revised, while the springs and stabiliser bars were stiffened.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) was fitted as standard for the Cayman GTS and an extra-cost option for the Cayman and Cayman S. With continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of accelerometers, PASM enabled the driver to select from Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and ‘Individual’ settings. For the 718 Cayman and Cayman GTS, PASM reduced the ride height by 10 mm; for the Cayman S, ride height was reduced by 20 mm.

Steering

The 718 Cayman had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power-assistance. Relative to the 981 Cayman, the steering for the 718 Cayman had a 10 per cent more direct ratio.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche 718 Cayman included dual front airbags, front seat-mounted thorax airbags, curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the 718 Cayman was equipped with a ‘multi-collision brake’ function which, after an initial collision, would automatically apply the brakes for controlled deceleration – this reduced vehicle speed and therefore the severity of any subsequent collision. The operation of multi-collision brake, however, could be over-ridden by the driver.

As an extra-cost option, the 718 Cayman could be specified with Porsche’s ‘Lane change assist’.

Wheels and brakes

Relative to the 981 Cayman, the rear-wheels for the 718 Cayman and Cayman S were half an inch wider. As such, the 718 Cayman had 8.0J x 18-inch front and 9.5J x 18-inch rear alloy wheels, while the Cayman S had 8.0J x 19-inch front and 10.0J x 19-inch rear alloy wheels.

The 718 Cayman had 330 mm by 28 mm vented front brake discs (with four-piston calipers) and 299 mm by 20 mm vented rear discs; the Cayman S, however, had 330 mm by 34 mm vented front brake discs.

Features: 718 Cayman and Cayman S

Standard features for the 718 Cayman included the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including navigation module and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, a 150 watt sound system with eight speakers and digital radio tuner (Porsche’s ‘Sound Package Plus’), dual-zone climate control air conditioning, front sports seats with fourteen-way power adjustment and memory settings, heated seats, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with heating, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, a wind deflector, trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring, an alarm and immobiliser.

Features: Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

Compared to the Cayman S, the Cayman GTS was fitted as standard with:

• Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package with selectable drive settings (see below);
• Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical rear differential lock; and,
• Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) which lowered the body by 10 mm.

Inside, the Cayman GTS featured two-way power adjustable front sports seats with Alcantara centre panels, GTS logos on the headrests, and Alcantara trim for the steering wheel, centre console and armrests.

Visually, the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS could be identified by its new ‘Sport Design’ front bumper, black-tinted front light clusters and bi-xenon headlights, 20-inch wheels painted in black (satin finish) and black GTS logos at the base of the doors. At the rear, the Cayman GTS had tinted tail lights, black logos, a black lower bumper and centrally positioned black tailpipes.

Sport Chrono Package and ‘Sport Response’ button

As an extra-cost option, the 718 Cayman could be specified with a Sport Chrono Package which enabled the driver to select from Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual settings; ‘Individual’ enabled the driver to separately program settings for PASM, the sport exhaust system, auto start/stop function and rear spoiler via a menu in the instrument cluster.

For models with the PDK, the Sport Chrono Package also included a ‘Sport Response’ button. Pressing the ‘Sport Response’ button prepared the engine and transmission for ‘spontaneous responsiveness’ for 20 seconds. At part-load, the wastegate of the turbocharger was closed so that charge pressure would be generated more quickly. When the ‘Sport Response’ button was pressed, the PDK would also downshift and engage a special shifting map which had higher shift points than Sport Plus.

Related links

• Porsche Cars Australia: Porsche Cayman
• Wikipedia.org: Porsche Cayman

Overview

Released in May 2013, the Porsche 981 Cayman was a mid-engined, two-door coupe. Manufactured in Osnabruk, Germany, the 981 Cayman and Cayman S were powered by 2.7- and 3.4-litre horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engines, respectively. The Cayman GTS was released in June 2014.

Engines and transmissions

Both the 2.7- and 3.4-litre engines featured direct injection, auto start/stop and variable valve timing and lift (Porsche’s ‘VarioCam Plus’) on the intake side, while the 3.4-litre engine also had a switching resonance flap that provides greater torque at low revs and a uniform torque curve.

The engines were mated to either six-speed manual or seven-speed double clutch transmissions (Porsche’s Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK). To conserve fuel, models fitted with the double clutch transmission also had a coasting function that enabled the engine to run in neutral when power was not required.

Body and dimensions

Based on the 981 Boxster platform, the 981 Cayman chassis had mixed aluminium-steel construction whereby 44 per cent of the body-in-white consisted of aluminium (including the front body, floor and rear body, the doors and bootlids). Significantly, the chassis achieved a 40 per cent increased in torsional rigidity and contributed to mass reductions of up to 30 kg according to the variant.

Compared to the 987 Cayman , the 981 Cayman was 33 mm longer (at 4380 mm), the same width (1801 mm), 11 mm lower (1294 mm) and had a 59 mm longer wheelbase (2475 mm). Furthermore, the windscreen was shifted forward and the roofline extended for greater interior space.

Suspension and steering

The 981 Cayman had MacPherson strut suspension front and rear, and introduced an electromechanical power steering system.

PASM and PTV

The Cayman was available with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management Technology (PASM) as an extra-cost option. With continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of accelerometers, PASM offered selectable ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes. In Sport mode, the suspension was lowered and a firmer damper control map was activated. In its normal setting, the PASM would automatically adjust to changes in driving style, becoming firmer in response to greater dynamic forces.

Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) was also available as an option and consisted of a mechanical rear axle differential lock which could brake the inside rear wheel when cornering for more accurate handling. The differential lock had an asymmetric locking action of 22 per cent in traction and 27 per cent in propulsion.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the 981 Cayman included dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

For models fitted with the PDK transmission, adaptive cruise control (ACC) and ‘Porsche Active Safe’ (PAS) were available as extra-cost options. The ACC system used a radar sensor to detect objects up to 200 metres ahead and would vary vehicle speed to maintain a preset distance. The PAS system used the same radar to monitor traffic and would provide warnings (visual, acoustic and applying a ‘jolt’ in the brake pedal). If the driver did not react with appropriate braking, the system could increase brake pressure up to hard braking.

Brakes

The Cayman had 316 mm by 28 mm vented front brake discs and 299 mm by 20 mm vented rear discs (both with four-piston calipers). The Cayman S, however, had 330 mm by 28 mm vented front discs.

Features: Cayman and Cayman S

Standard features for the Cayman included 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/45 front and 265/45 rear ZR18 tyres, a seven speaker sound system with a CD/DVD player, MP3-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod), and Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation with a seven-inch touch screen, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, daytime LED running lights, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift lever, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a 12 volt power outlet, trip computer, motion-sensing alarm and an immobiliser.

The Cayman S was further equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/40 front and 265/40 rear ZR19 tyres and bi-xenon headlights.

2014 Cayman GTS

Released in Australia in June 2014, the Cayman GTS was fitted with 20-inch black Carrera S alloy wheels with 235/35 front and 265/35 rear tyres, a unique front spoiler, black finish bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), black gloss rear lettering and a lower rear apron.

As standard, the Cayman GTS was also fitted with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM, detailed below) and a Sport Chrono package which included dynamic engine mounts that could stiffen to reduce the effects of mass transfer and, for models with the PDK transmission, a Launch Control function. For models with manual transmissions, however, the Sport Chrono package included automatic declutching with downshifts in the Sport Plus drive mode.

2015 Cayman GT4

Released in Australia in the third quarter of 2015, the Cayman GT4 was powered by a 3.8-litre engine which is derived from the 991 911 Carrera S. Compared to standard Cayman, the Cayman GT4 had a 30 mm lower body, an upgraded braking package and be identified by its three distinctive inlet openings in the front mask and large fixed rear wing.

Sharing components and ‘genetic spirit’ with the 911 GT3, standard features for the Cayman GT4 included 20-inch alloy wheels, 245/35 front and 295/30 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, sports seats upholstered in leather and Alcantara, bi-xenon headlights and Porsche’s ‘Sport Chrono Pack’ with dynamic engine mounts. As standard, the Cayman GT4 was fitted with the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) system with mechanical rear limited slip differential (described in ‘PASM’ and ‘PTV’, above).

Extra-cost options for the Cayman GT4 included PCCB ceramic brakes, shell-backed seats made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), a custom Sport Chrono Package with a ‘Track Precision’ app, and a Club Sport Package.

May 2015 updates

In May 2015, standard features for the Cayman range were extended to include fourteen-way power adjustable front seats, heated front seats, front parking sensors and a multi-function steering wheel.

Porsche Cayman Black Edition

In October 2015, Porsche released the Cayman Black Edition which was powered by the 2.7-litre F6 engine. Compared to the standard Cayman, the Cayman Black Edition was further equipped with 20-inch ‘Carrera Classic’ alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors and aluminium side window trims. Inside, the Cayman Black Edition featured an embossed Porsche crest on the seat headrests, SportDesign steering wheel and door sill guards with the ‘Black Edition’ logo in black.

Brochures

• Brochure: Porsche 981 Cayman (December 2013)
• Brochure: Porsche 981 Cayman GTS (December 2013)

Related links

• Porsche Cars Australia: Porsche Cayman
• Wikipedia.org: Porsche 981 Cayman

Overview

Production of the third-generation Porsche ‘9YA’ or ‘E3’ Cayenne commenced in in Bratislava, Slovakia, in August 2017 and it was released in Australia in June 2018. A large SUV, the Porsche E3 Cayenne range initially consisted of standard, S and Turbo variants which were powered by 3.0-litre turbo V6, 2.9-litre biturbo V6 and 4.0-litre biturbo V8 petrol engines, respectively, that were mated to eight-speed ZF automatic transmissions (though branded as Porsche’s ‘Tiptronic S’). Australian deliveries of the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid commenced in the third quarter of 2018.

To reduce fuel consumption, all engines had:

• A start-stop system which could shut down the engine when the vehicle was stationary; and,
• A coasting function which could decouple the driveline from the engine to prevent engine braking and thereby reduce fuel consumption.

All-wheel drive system

As standard, the Porsche E3 Cayenne had an active all-wheel drive with an electronically variable, map-controlled multi-plate clutch for variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles. As such, there was no pre-determined torque split and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system continually monitored driving conditions. If, for example, the rear wheels started to spin when accelerating, the multi-plate clutch would engage to direct more power to the front wheels. When cornering, the delivery of power to the front wheels was also monitored for lateral stability. The all-wheel drive system also included an automatic brake differential which, if the driven wheels began to spin, would brake the wheel with the higher level of slip.

While the E3 Cayenne had a default ‘Onroad’ program, the driver could also select from four off-road modes for different surfaces: Mud, Gravel, Sand or Rocks.

Body and dimensions

The Porsche E3 Cayenne was underpinned by Volkswagen AG’s ‘MLB evo’ platform which was shared with the Audi 4M Q7 and Bentley Bentayga . Compared to the Porsche Mk.2 Cayenne , the Porsche E3 Cayenne was 63 mm longer (at 4918 mm), 44 mm wider (1983 mm) and 9 mm lower (1696 mm), though wheelbase length was unchanged at 2895 mm. Furthermore, the E3 Cayenne had a drag co-efficient of 0.34 Cd and a frontal area of 2.83 m2. Inside, the E3 Cayenne had a luggage compartment volume of 770 litres with the rear seats in position, an increase of 100 litres relative to its predecessor. With the rear seats folded down and luggage filled to the roofline, luggage capacity was 1710 litres.

The body of the Porsche E3 Cayenne used a combination of aluminium alloys and steel. Specifically, the floorpan assembly, front section and ‘virtually all the chassis components’ are also manufactured from aluminium alloys. Furthermore, all exterior body panels (i.e. the bonnet, front wings, side panels, doors, roof and tailgate) were made of aluminium and the lithium-ion polymer starter battery achieved a mass reduction of 10 kg. In combination, the E3 Cayenne was 55 kg lighter than its Mk.2 predecessor and the standard E3 Cayenne had an unladen mass of 1985 kg.

Suspension

The Porsche E3 Cayenne had aluminium multi-link suspension front and rear. As standard, the Porsche Cayenne had steel springs with passive shock absorbers. Fitted as standard for Australian deliveries, Porsche’s Active Suspension Management Technology (PASM) consisted of continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of accelerometers. Furthermore, PASM enables the driver to select from drive modes which also adjusted engine mapping, steering assistance and transmission behaviour.

In addition to PASM, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo – as standard – was fitted with:

• Adaptive three-chamber air suspension; and,
• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) which consisted of active anti-roll bars that responded to steering angle and lateral acceleration to provide a stabilising force and reduce body roll. While PDCC had previously been a hydraulic system, the introduction of a 48 volt electrical system enabled electronic control of the anti-roll bars for faster response times.

Steering

The Porsche E3 Cayenne had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance. Furthermore, the steering had a ratio of 13.3:1 from the centre position and provided a turning circle of 12.1 metres (diameter).

As an option, the E3 Cayenne could be specified with rear axle steering. At low speeds, the rear wheels would turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to improve manoeuvrability; at high speeds, the wheels would turn in the same direction to increase stability. With rear axle steering, the Mk.3 Cayenne had a steering ratio of 12.2:1 from the centre position and the minimum turning circle was 11.5 metres (diameter).

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche Cayenne included dual front airbags, dual front knee airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control, trailer sway control, front and outer rear seatbelts with pre-tensioners and front seatbelt load limiters.

As standard, the Porsche Cayenne was fitted with:

• Warn and Brake Assist: used the front radar sensors and camera to detect collision risks with cars, pedestrians or cyclists. Initially, the driver would receive visual and acoustic warnings. In its second stage, the brakes would be applied for a ‘jolting’ effect. If the driver failed to respond, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) would be initiated to reduce vehicle speed;
• Lane Change Assist: operating at speeds from 15 km/h to 250 km/h, Lane Change Assist used a radar to monitor traffic in adjacent lanes up to 70 metres behind the Cayenne and would warn the driver of approaching traffic by illuminating LEDs in the corresponding door mirror; and,
• Multi-collision brake: following a collision, the brakes would be applied for controlled deceleration to reduce the likelihood and severity of subsequent collisions. The multi-collision brake function, however, could be over-ridden by the driver.

As standard, the Porsche E3 Cayenne was fitted with an ‘active bonnet’ which had pyrotechnic actuators in the bonnet hinges. In the event of a pedestrian collision, the actuators would deploy and locks would keep the bonnet in a raised position to provide additional deformation space between the bonnet and hard structures beneath it.

As an extra-cost option, the Porsche E3 Cayenne could be specified with:

• Adaptive Cruise Control including Emergency Stop Function: operating at speeds from 30 km/h to 210 km/h, Adaptive Cruise Control could control the Cayenne’s speed and distance from other vehicles. The stop-and-go function enables the Cayenne to brake until stationary and automatically accelerate if the vehicle had been stationary for less than three seconds; for longer periods, the accelerator would need to be depressed to initiate acceleration. Adaptive Cruise Control also included an autonomous emergency braking function;
• Lane Keeping Assist: active at speeds from 65 km/h to 250 km/h, Lane Keeping Assist used a forward-facing camera to monitor the Cayenne’s position within its lane. In the event that the Cayenne was about to depart from its lane without indicating, corrective steering inputs would be applied to return the vehicle to the centre of its lane and the driver was alerted via steering wheel pulsations; and,
• Night Vision Assistant: used an infrared imaging camera to detect people and large animals up to 300 metres ahead, and displayed a colour highlighted warning indicator in the cockpit.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the 2017 Porsche Cayenne received a five star safety rating which included a 95 per cent adult occupant protection rating, an 80 per cent child occupant protection rating and a 62 per cent ‘safety assist’ rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the driver’s head, thighs and feet were rated as good, though chest and lower leg protection was rated as adequate (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury). Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test; in the more severe pole test, however, protection of the driver’s chest was rated as adequate.

Wheels, tyres and brakes

To improve stability and driving dynamics when cornering, the Porsche E3 Cayenne was fitted with mixed tyres. For brakes,

• The standard Cayenne had 350 mm by 34 mm ventilated front brake discs with four-piston monobloc fixed callipers and 330 mm by 26 mm ventilated rear discs with two-piston monobloc fixed callipers;
• The Cayenne E-Hybrid had 350 mm by 36 mm ventilated front brake discs with four-piston monobloc fixed callipers and 358 mm by 28 mm ventilated rear discs with two-piston monobloc fixed callipers;
• The Cayenne S has 390 mm by 38 mm ventilated front brake discs with six-piston monobloc fixed callipers and 330 mm by 28 mm ventilated rear discs with four-piston monobloc fixed calipers; and,
• The Cayenne Turbo had 415 mm by 40 mm ventilated front brake discs with ten-piston monobloc fixed callipers and 365 mm by 28 mm ventilated rear discs with four-piston monobloc fixed callipers.

Fitted as standard for the Cayenne Turbo and available for other variants in combination with 21-inch wheels, the cast-iron brake discs could be specified with a newly developed tungsten-bide coating. Called Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PSCB), the coating increased friction while reducing disc wear and brake dust. The Porsche E3 Cayenne could also be specified with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCM).

Features: Porsche E3 Cayenne and Cayenne E-Hybrid

Standard features for the Porsche Mk.3 Cayenne included the Porsche Communication Management (PCM 4.1) system which had a 12.3-inch full-HD touchscreen, ‘Porsche Connect Plus’ for online satellite navigation with real-time traffic information, a SIM card reader, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, voice control, Apple Car Play smartphone integration. As standard, the Porsche Cayenne had a 150 watt hi-fi sound system with ten speakers and a digital radio tuner. For connectivity, the Porsche Cayenne had two USB charging and connectivity sockets in the centre console storage compartment, two USB charging sockets in the rear centre console and three 12 volt power sockets.

Beyond this, standard features for the Porsche Cayenne included fourteen-way power adjustable front seats with memory package, partial leather seats, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, LED headlights with dusk-sensing function (Porsche’s ‘driving light assistant’), LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors (Porsche’s ‘ParkAssist’) 40/20/40 split and folding rear seats, steering wheel gearshift paddles, remote central locking with proximity key, power adjustable and heated door mirrors with power folding, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, auto-dimming interior and door mirrors, push-button start, illuminated vanity mirrors, rear privacy glass, an automatic tailgate, tyre pressure monitoring, a trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

The Porsche Cayenne was also equipped with Porsche’s Surround View, a surround view camera system which could provide a bird’s eye graphical representation of the vehicle on the central display screen and show the proximity of nearby obstacles.

Features: Porsche E3 Cayenne S

The Porsche Cayenne S was further equipped with a Bose surround sound system which had fourteen speakers (including subwoofer) and a total output of 710 watts, heated fronts seats and a panoramic sunroof.

The Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo were also equipped with the ‘Porsche Dynamic Light System’ (PDLS) which provided a variety of light modes such as cornering light and motorway light. Beyond this, PDLS Plus provided fully variable light distribution and intensity since it used 84 individually activated LEDs – this enabled the light distribution to be partially masked or dimmed to avoid dazzling other drivers.

Features: Porsche E3 Cayenne Turbo

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo was distinguished by its Adaptive sports seats with eighteen-way power adjustment, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, four-zone climate control air conditioning and Alcantara roof lining.

Unique within the range, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo had an adaptive roof spoiler which could increase downforce on the rear axle and, in its ‘airbrake’ position, reduce braking distances from higher speeds. According to Porsche, the airbrake reduced the stopping distance by two (2) metres, if applying full braking from 250 km/h.

Overview

To be released in Europe in May 2019, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe is a large SUV with a raked roofline. To be manufactured in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe will initially be available with 3.0-litre turbo V6 and 4.0-litre biturbo V8 petrol engines that are mated to eight-speed ZF automatic transmissions (see table below). Like the related Porsche E3 Cayenne , however, an E-Hybrid variant is expected to follow.

To reduce fuel consumption, all engines have:

• A start-stop system which can shut down the engine when the vehicle is stationary; and,
• A coasting function which can decouple the driveline from the engine to prevent engine braking and thereby reduce fuel consumption.

Compared to the Porsche E3 Cayenne , the Cayenne Coupe can be identified by its unique rear end, adaptive rear spoiler (which extends by 135 mm at speeds of 90 km/h and above) and panoramic fixed glass roof or an optional carbon roof. Inside, the Cayenne Coupe has two individual second row seats as standard, though the three-seat rear bench of the Cayenne is available as an option.

All-wheel drive system

As standard, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe has an active all-wheel drive with an electronically variable, map-controlled multi-plate clutch for variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles. As such, there is no pre-determined torque split and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system continually monitors driving conditions. If, for example, the rear wheels start to spin when accelerating, the multi-plate clutch engages to direct more power to the front wheels. When cornering, the delivery of power to the front wheels is also monitored for lateral stability. The all-wheel drive system also includes an automatic brake differential which, if the driven wheels begin to spin, brakes the wheel with the higher level of slip.

Body and dimensions

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is underpinned by Volkswagen AG’s MLB evo platform which was shared with the Porsche E3 Cayenne , Audi 4M Q8 and Bentley Bentayga . The body of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe uses a combination of aluminium alloys and steel. Specifically, the floorpan assembly, front section and ‘virtually all the chassis components’ are manufactured from aluminium alloys. Furthermore, all exterior body panels (i.e. the bonnet, front wings, side panels, doors, roof and tailgate) are made of aluminium and the lithium-ion polymer starter battery achieves a mass reduction of 10 kg.

Compared to the Porsche E3 Cayenne , the Cayenne Coupe is 13 mm longer (at 4931 mm), the same width (1983 mm), 20 mm lower (1676 mm) and has the same length wheelbase (2895 mm). Furthermore, the Cayenne Coupe has a luggage capacity of 620 litres, though this increases to 1540 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

Suspension

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe has aluminium multi-link suspension front and rear. As standard, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe has steel springs with passive shock absorbers. Expected to be standard for Australian deliveries, however, Porsche’s Active Suspension Management Technology (PASM) consists of continuously adjustable shock absorbers and a pair of accelerometers. PASM enables the driver to select from drive modes which also adjust engine mapping, steering assistance and transmission behaviour.

In addition to PASM, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe is expected to be fitted with: 

• Adaptive three-chamber air suspension; and,
• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) which consists of active anti-roll bars that respond to steering angle and lateral acceleration to provide a stabilising force and reduce body roll.

Steering

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe has rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance. The steering has a ratio of 13.3:1 from the centre position and provides a turning circle of 12.1 metres (diameter).

As an option, the Cayenne Coupe is expected to be available with rear axle steering. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to improve manoeuvrability; at high speeds, the wheels turn in the same direction to increase stability. With rear axle steering, the Cayenne Coupe has a steering ratio of 12.2:1 from the centre position and the minimum turning circle is 11.5 metres (diameter).

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche Cayenne Coupe includes dual front airbags, dual front knee airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control, trailer sway control, front and outer rear seatbelts with pre-tensioners and front seatbelt load limiters.

As standard, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe is fitted with:

• Warn and Brake Assist: uses the front radar sensors and camera to detect collision risks with cars, pedestrians or cyclists. Initially, the driver receives visual and acoustic warnings. In its second stage, the brakes are applied for a ‘jolting’ effect. If the driver fails to respond, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is initiated to reduce vehicle speed;
• Lane Change Assist: operating at speeds from 15 km/h to 250 km/h, Lane Change Assist uses a radar to monitor traffic in adjacent lanes up to 70 metres behind the Cayenne Coupe and warns the driver of approaching traffic by illuminating LEDs in the corresponding door mirror; and,
• Multi-collision brake: following a collision, the brakes are applied for controlled deceleration to reduce the likelihood and severity of subsequent collisions. The multi-collision brake function, however, can be over-ridden by the driver.

As standard, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe is fitted with an ‘active bonnet’ which has pyrotechnic actuators in the bonnet hinges. In the event of a pedestrian collision, the actuators deploy and locks keep the bonnet in a raised position to provide additional deformation space between the bonnet and hard structures beneath it.

As extra-cost options, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe is expected to be available with:

• Adaptive Cruise Control including Emergency Stop Function: operating at speeds from 30 km/h to 210 km/h, Adaptive Cruise Control controls vehicle speed and distance from other vehicles. The stop-and-go function enables the Cayenne Coupe to brake until stationary and automatically accelerate if the vehicle has been stationary for less than three seconds; for longer periods, the accelerator needs to be depressed to initiate acceleration. Adaptive Cruise Control also includes an autonomous emergency braking function;
• Lane Keeping Assist: active at speeds from 65 km/h to 250 km/h, Lane Keeping Assist uses a forward-facing camera to monitor the Cayenne Coupe’s position within its lane. In the event that the Cayenne Coupe is about to depart from its lane without indicating, corrective steering inputs are applied to return the vehicle to the centre of its lane and the driver is alerted via steering wheel pulsations; and,
• Night Vision Assistant: uses an infrared imaging camera to detect people and large animals up to 300 metres ahead, and displays a colour highlighted warning indicator in the cockpit.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the related 2017 Porsche Cayenne received a five star safety rating which included a 95 per cent adult occupant protection rating, an 80 per cent child occupant protection rating and a 62 per cent ‘safety assist’ rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the driver’s head, thighs and feet were rated as good, though chest and lower leg protection was rated as adequate (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury). Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test; in the more severe pole test, however, protection of the driver’s chest was rated as adequate.

Features: Porsche Cayenne Coupe

Standard features for the Porsche Cayenne Coupe are expected to include the Porsche Communication Management (PCM 4.1) system which has a 12.3-inch full-HD touchscreen, ‘Porsche Connect Plus’ for online satellite navigation with real-time traffic information, a SIM card reader, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, voice control, Apple Car Play smartphone integration. The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is expected to have a 150 watt hi-fi sound system with ten speakers and a digital radio tuner. For connectivity, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe will have two USB charging and connectivity sockets in the centre console storage compartment, two USB charging sockets in the rear centre console and three 12 volt power sockets.

Beyond this, standard features for Australian-delivered Porsche Cayenne Coupes are expected to include fourteen-way power adjustable front seats with memory package, partial leather seats, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, LED headlights with dusk-sensing function (Porsche’s ‘driving light assistant’), LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors (Porsche’s ‘ParkAssist’), steering wheel gearshift paddles, remote central locking with proximity key, power adjustable and heated door mirrors with power folding, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, auto-dimming interior and door mirrors, push-button start, illuminated vanity mirrors, rear privacy glass, an automatic tailgate, tyre pressure monitoring, a trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is also expected to be equipped with Porsche’s Surround View, a surround view camera system which provides a bird’s eye graphical representation of the vehicle on the central display screen and shows the proximity of nearby obstacles.

Further information will be available closer to launch.

Review: Porsche 955 Cayenne (2003-06)

Overview

Released in June 2003, the Porsche Type 955 Cayenne was a five-seat, four-wheel drive wagon. Manufactured in Leipzig, Germany, the Porsche 955 Cayenne range initially consisted of the S and Turbo variants, but was expanded in 2006 with the Turbo S. Although sharing its platform with the Volkswagen Touareg, the Cayenne was powered by unique engines – the Cayenne S had a naturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 petrol engine, while the Turbo and Turbo S variants had a twin-turbocharged unit.

Engines

The 4.5-litre V8 petrol engine had double overhead camshafts (per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder, Porsche’s VarioCam variable intake valve timing system, dry-sump lubrication and cast-aluminium pistons. The engines for the Turbo and Turbo S variants were fitted with parallel turbochargers, high termperature-resistant aluminium alloy cylinder heads and forged pistons with oil-injection cooling jets.

Dimensions

The Porsche Mk.1 Cayenne shared its platform with the Volkswagen 7L Touareg and Audi 4L Q7 , but had unique styling, tuning and engines. Compared to the 7L Touareg, the Cayenne was 28 mm longer (at 4782 mm) and 26 mm lower (1699 mm), but width (1928 mm) and wheelbase length (2855 mm) were unchanged.

Suspension

The Cayenne had double wishbone front suspension (mounted on its own subframe) and multi-link rear suspension; while steel springs were fitted as standard, Turbo variants were fitted with adjustable air springs.

4WD system

The Porsche Mk.1 Cayenne had a permanent four-wheel drive system which, in normal conditions, provided a 38:62 front:rear torque split. However, an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch enabled all of the engine’s torque to be directed to either axle if required. The Cayenne was also equipped with a low range gear ratio (2.7:1), longitudinal differential lock for off-road use and an automatic brake differential which, if the drive wheels began to spin, would brake the wheel with the higher level of slip.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Porsche 955 Cayenne included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, traction control (‘Porsche Traction Management’), front and outer rear seatbelt pretensioners and front seatbelt load limiters.

Brakes

The Porsche Cayenne had 350 mm by 34 mm inner-vented front brake discs with six-piston aluminium monobloc calipers and 330 mm by 28 mm inner-vented rear discs with four-piston monobloc calipers (with pad wear sensors). The Turbo S, however, was fitted with larger 380 mm front and 358 mm rear discs.

Features

Standard features for the Porsche Cayenne S included 18-inch alloy, a fourteen speaker Bose sound system with CD player, four-zone climate control air conditioning, a satellite navigation system, power adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, trip computer, roof rails, a motion-sensing alarm and an immobiliser.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo was further equipped with bi-xenon headlights with washers, heated front and rear seats, front and rear parking sensors, car phone, power adjustable steering column, memory settings (front seats, mirrors and steering wheel) and a power sunroof; from October 2005, the Turbo was also fitted with tyre pressure monitoring. However, the Turbo variant was also fitted with:

• an air suspension system with a self-levelling feature and six adjustable ride heights, and,
• Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM): an electronically variable damping system which provided continual adjustment of damper forces according to road conditions and driver behaviour. The system also included selectable Comfort, Normal and Sports settings.

The range-topping Cayenne Turbo S was differentiated by its 20-inch alloy wheels, embossed leather seats and tyre pressure monitoring.

Review: Porsche 957 Cayenne (2007-10)

Overview

Released in March 2007, the Type 957 Cayenne introduced a revised range, mechanical upgrades and a subtle facelift. Visually, the 957 Cayenne could be identified by its new bonnet, front guards, bumpers and head- and tail-lights; the Turbo variants also had a larger front airdam.

The 957 Cayenne range initially consisted of an entry-level variant with a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine and the S and Turbo variants; the 4.5-litre V8 engines, however, were replaced with larger 4.8-litre units which also featured direct-injection and Porsche’s VarioCam Plus variable valve control system. In 2008, the range was expanded by the GTS and Turbo S variants, with a Diesel variant following in 2009.

Safety equipment

Compared to its 955 predecessor, standard safety equipment for the 957 Cayenne was improved with the addition of brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, trailer stability control, off-road ABS and rollover sensors (for the advance deployment of curtain airbags).

Features

Standard features for the 957 Cayenne and Cayenne Diesel included 17-inch alloy wheels, a twelve speaker sound system with CD player and MP3-compatibility, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, power adjustable front seats, cooled glovebox, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, heated and folding mirrors, a tilt and reach adjustable steering column, 12 volt power outlets, rear privacy glass, trip computer, alarm and immobiliser.

The Cayenne S was further equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, air suspension and PASM, a fourteen speaker Bose sound system with six-disc CD player, satellite navigation and cruise control. Beyond this, the GTS added 21-inch alloy wheels, contoured sports seats a power adjustable steering column, Alcantara headlining and a unique ‘satin aluminium’ center console.

The Cayenne Turbo was fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, but also received four-zone climate control air conditioning, heated front and rear seats, directional bi-xenon headlights with washers, a power sunroof, proximity key and tyre pressure monitoring.

Finally, the range-topping Cayenne Turbo S was distinguished by its 21-inch alloy wheels, embossed leather seats, two-tone leather upholstery with Alcantara trim and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), which utilised active anti-roll bars to respond to the steering angle and lateral acceleration to provide a stabilizing force which counteracted the swaying force of the chassis.

2009 Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3

In September 2009, a limited-run GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 model was released. Compared to the standard GTS, the Porsche Design Edition 3 featured black-trimmed power-adjustable sports seats with red stitching, Porsche-embossed head restraints and Alcantara seat facings and ‘Lava Grey’ metallic paint finish. The GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 was also sold with a Porsche Design Chronograph watch and four-piece luggage set.

Brochure

• Brochure: Porsche 957 Cayenne GTS (July 2008)

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Porsche Mk.1 Cayenne