Apr 20, 2004 2:38:41 PM
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Carlos from Spain
- Rennteam Moderator
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- Loc: Spain. , Spain
- Posts: 21148, Gallery
- Registered on: Feb 9, 2003
Upcoming competition to the Cayenne from MB, the R-Class.
Looks like MB is planning a new class to compete with the Cayenne, X5 and Tuareg, the R-Class, a sportier more luxurious version vs the more off-roader type SUV, compared to the M-class and G-class.
Aslo the G-class get ditched for this more comfortable and sportier modern version.
The AMG version engine for these new MB SUV classes they claim to be rumored at 460HP but I doubt it will be bellow the magical 500HP mark. MB doesn't precisely shy from offering plenty of HP in their top models these days, usualy exeeding the competition since they now how the HP figures on the brochure sells.
Car Connection
I always though that Porsche should have offered two different models (not just engine) of the Cayenne. One a more off-roading oriented version for those that plan to use the Cayenne for off the streets driving kind of like the G-class, a minority of Cayenne owners IMO. And a more street oriented Cayenne than the actual Cayenne, with a greater priority on street performance for those owners who want the space and cargo of a SUV, the traction, greater ground clearance and versatility of a SUV while attaining more handling, performance and fun at the wheel than what the actual Cayenne already achieves, which would be quite a shocker vehicle.
I would think there are a lot of people who buy today's SUVs (especially Cayenne buyers) which would be willing to give up some off-roading capabilities in exchange of improved aerodinamics (specially front Cd and surface area) for highway driving speeds performance and gas milage, greater downforce and less lift with maybe by adaptable-changing aerodinamic elemenents such as the extendable electronic rear wing of the carrera, even sportier and lower settings for the neumatic suspensions, sport exhaust for that deep V8 growl to be released with an on-off switch maybe like the one to close or open resonance valves on the carrera porsche sport exhaust to turn the sportier & louder exhaust note on/off on demand, sportier more street performing wheel-tire combo, etc
... and here comes the "yeah, I wish" part
: an industries first aluminum chasis for a SUV, since the alum is not only lighter but also stiffer, in a vehicle such as a SUV the weight savings would be enourmous compared to the smaller-lighter cars (I think that the alum XJ is already 200kg lighter than the steel monocoque previous version, imagine the 2300kg+ CayenneTT) and maybe not on lower class american SUV/trucks, but in these performance oriented SUV's it would be really appealing to buyers not only for the milage but mainly it would yield a type of handling and performance figures completely out of its class. And it would be great if Porsche is the one to introduce this and set a new standard and refference as a sportcar philosophy maker it is (...or was). Maybe its not technologically possible on a SUV, I'm no engineer, but I think the effort in R&D would be greatly appreciated by the potential buyers. Seems like curb weight will become a much greater priority in the SUV industry in the future as SUVs get more and more performance and street oriented and less and less work or functional oriented, so maybe Porsche should pick Audi as a partner for the next Cayenne since they have quite an experience with alum chasis (and AWD) or maybe Audi will be the first by themselves 
Aslo the G-class get ditched for this more comfortable and sportier modern version.
The AMG version engine for these new MB SUV classes they claim to be rumored at 460HP but I doubt it will be bellow the magical 500HP mark. MB doesn't precisely shy from offering plenty of HP in their top models these days, usualy exeeding the competition since they now how the HP figures on the brochure sells.
Car Connection
I always though that Porsche should have offered two different models (not just engine) of the Cayenne. One a more off-roading oriented version for those that plan to use the Cayenne for off the streets driving kind of like the G-class, a minority of Cayenne owners IMO. And a more street oriented Cayenne than the actual Cayenne, with a greater priority on street performance for those owners who want the space and cargo of a SUV, the traction, greater ground clearance and versatility of a SUV while attaining more handling, performance and fun at the wheel than what the actual Cayenne already achieves, which would be quite a shocker vehicle.
I would think there are a lot of people who buy today's SUVs (especially Cayenne buyers) which would be willing to give up some off-roading capabilities in exchange of improved aerodinamics (specially front Cd and surface area) for highway driving speeds performance and gas milage, greater downforce and less lift with maybe by adaptable-changing aerodinamic elemenents such as the extendable electronic rear wing of the carrera, even sportier and lower settings for the neumatic suspensions, sport exhaust for that deep V8 growl to be released with an on-off switch maybe like the one to close or open resonance valves on the carrera porsche sport exhaust to turn the sportier & louder exhaust note on/off on demand, sportier more street performing wheel-tire combo, etc
... and here comes the "yeah, I wish" part
: an industries first aluminum chasis for a SUV, since the alum is not only lighter but also stiffer, in a vehicle such as a SUV the weight savings would be enourmous compared to the smaller-lighter cars (I think that the alum XJ is already 200kg lighter than the steel monocoque previous version, imagine the 2300kg+ CayenneTT) and maybe not on lower class american SUV/trucks, but in these performance oriented SUV's it would be really appealing to buyers not only for the milage but mainly it would yield a type of handling and performance figures completely out of its class. And it would be great if Porsche is the one to introduce this and set a new standard and refference as a sportcar philosophy maker it is (...or was). Maybe its not technologically possible on a SUV, I'm no engineer, but I think the effort in R&D would be greatly appreciated by the potential buyers. Seems like curb weight will become a much greater priority in the SUV industry in the future as SUVs get more and more performance and street oriented and less and less work or functional oriented, so maybe Porsche should pick Audi as a partner for the next Cayenne since they have quite an experience with alum chasis (and AWD) or maybe Audi will be the first by themselves
