Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder, which might have been writ large in Porsche HQ when it first launched the Cayenne to an incredulous world in 2002.
It was Porsche's first SUV and naturally, being a Porsche, it was expensive, it was ritzy, it was glitzy, it had pretty powerful engines and it was less than fuel efficient. What it wasn't was low and sporty and particularly good-looking and, as a result, it attracted much opprobrium from both the press and Porsche aficionados for its funny face and slab-sided SUV-ness.
No matter the public liked it, the gamble paid off and this and successive generations of Cayenne have gone on to shake their money maker most handsomely for Porsche, such that no respectable middle-class driveway would now be seen without one.
This story is from the February 01, 2023 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 01, 2023 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Aston to keep ICE for as long as it can; goes all in on PHEV
*There's a lot more hype in EVs than demand, especially at our price,\" says chairman
UK keeps Porsches as EU cyber rules come in
Macan and 718 are just two models forced into European retirement by new tech regulations
US government cracks down on vehicle pollution
THE CAR INDUSTRY'S reaction to the UK's new zero-emission vehicle mandate hasn't been positive, not least as some makers are unable to comply - and here we can hear echoes from early-1970s America.
New face and more range for EQS
Electric luxury saloon gains fresh look and tech makeover that boosts range by 11%
FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION
The Mk3 ST packs a potent but usable hot hatch punch
SKODA KODIAQ
SUV becomes bigger and swisher, offering seven-seat petrols and diesels and, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid
What future for Lotus?
Steve Cropley
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
Capacious estate strives to keep pace with techy newcomers in its ninth generation
AUDI RS E-TRON GT
Claims of a broader operating window and improved EV stats for Taycan sibling
Qashqai follows way of the samurai
Popular crossover dons traditional military helmet and enhances its combat skills