Porsche Cayenne: greater efficiency brings more power

From June 2011 the Porsche Cayenne and Panamera will receive detailed improvements, additions and new options together with more efficient engines that produce lower CO2 emissions. So to celebrate these gains in frugality, they’ve added more power – well this is Porsche after all.

First up the 3-litre V6 Cayenne Diesel which now delivers 242 bhp, 5 bhp more than previously. Fuel economy rises to 39 mpg from 38.2mpg, and CO2 emissions have dropped six grams to 189 g/km. The power increase has naturally had a positive effect on performance, dropping its 0 – 62 mph time by 0.2 seconds to 7.6 seconds, and upping its top speed by 2mph to 137mph.

The gain has been achieved by the use of new materials which reduce weight and lower internal friction and resistance, which incidentally also removes 20 kg from the weight of the V6 engine. The crankshaft has been redesigned with fewer counterweights and hollow bores to make it lighter and more free-revving, whilst direct injection pressure has increased by 200 to a maximum of 2000 bar, which in turn increases the quality of air:fuel mixture formation. The variable geometry turbocharger is also a new design with optimised bearings and a new compressor wheel, which translates into improved throttle response and greater efficiency.

Porsche have also made changes to the Modifications to the Cayenne S Hybrid – which is now capable of driving and manoeuvring on electric power alone at low speeds – previously this was only possible once a specific operating temperature had been reached.

The biggest headline goes to the Cayenne Turbo, which is now available with a Powerkit as with the Panamera Turbo. 532 bhp is 40 bhp more than a standard car, which is accompanied by a hike in torque of 50 Nm to 750 Nm. Performance improves to 4.6 seconds (0.1 s quicker) for the 0 – 62 mph increment whilst top speed has improved by 3 mph to 176 mph. Porsche are quick to point out that despite the addition of a Powerkit, fuel consumption and emissions remain unchanged; so the Cayenne still returns 24.6mpg combined and 270 g/km CO2.

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