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2008 Porsche Cayenne S Road Test

Hot peppers play a key role in international cuisine. If you're a chili pepperaficionado, chances are they find their way into almost everything you eat. The rush of endorphins most of us get from biting down on something intensely spicy keep us coming back for more, despite our better judgment. Cayenne pepper is a popular choice, probably because it ranks somewhere in the middle of the pepper heat continuum, providing a nice tingling on the tongue and on occasion the desire to seek out a glass of something cold. Perhaps that's why Porsche selected the name for its line of SUV's five years ago. There are varying degrees of heat in the Cayenne lineup, so to speak, the base V6 being mild and the Turbo model off the charts. In the case of this road test, we sampled something in the middle of the spicy model range, the Cayenne S. It's not as tame as the V6, and of course not as manic as the mighty Turbo. However, opting for the Cayenne S gets you a silver appliqué proclaiming so on the tailgate, along with a potent

With a 4.8-liter V8 under its hood, the Cayenne S isn't just a sport utility vehicle, it's a sports car in general. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

4.5-liter V8 churning out 385 horsepower. That's up 35 ponies over its platform-engineered cousins, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Audi Q7, and well into spicy territory.

Seeing as the Cayenne accounts for a large chunk of Porsche'sinternational sales, when it came time to refresh it for model 2008 the brand's approach to changing its looks were cautious at best. That said, we think that the Cayenne looks better than it ever did before, defining itself as an individual product in the company's lineup rather than trying to convince everyone that it's a 911 on stilts. Front and rear fascias are smoothed and treated to sharp looking LED treatments. It's enough

Interior is pretty simple and straightforward; lots of buttons around the center console, though. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

of a change that previous generation Cayenne owners were visibly craning their necks to get a good look.

As we touched on during our road test with the V6 variant, the Cayenne is a vehicle that evokes strong emotions by all who behold it. There are those who love its clean, chunky appearance and marvel at its off road capability, while others sneer and cast distasteful looks. It all depends on personal taste and perspective. Some of those folks are Porsche purists who maintain that a company that is in the business of building sports cars has no right building an SUV. Sales figures notwithstanding, we think those folks should redirect their anger elsewhere, as the Cayenne has helped to propup Porsche and make it the most profitable automaker in existence on a per-unit basis, not to

Five round instruments display everything you need to know at first glance. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

mention that such profit has allowed it to produce specialty cars like the Carrera GT.

The way I see it, the Cayenne might not take the form of a sports car, but it's a sports car nonetheless. It might weigh close to 5,000 pounds, but what other auto manufacturer can make anything this heavy handle, ride and accelerate as well as it does. On the contrary, it makes us wonder what the Cayenne would be like if Porsche had focused solely on its road behavior, something more along the lines of what we expected when we first heard Porsche was going to build a sport 'ute. We should point out that both on and off the road the Cayenne's behavior is supremely capable and polished, which we will discuss further in a minute.

As we mentioned earlier, the Cayenne shares a platform with the VW Touareg and the Audi Q7. If you have ever spent time behind the wheel of either of these vehicles, you'll find the inside

Flip 'n fold: with the rear seats folded down, the Cayenne offers 63.0 cubic feet of cargo space. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

of the Porsche familiar. It's avague sense of familiarity, however, because in the Cayenne's case it's got its own identity meant to distance it from its corporate cousins. The dashboard gauges have the classic Porsche font on their faces, and the ignition is on the left side of the steering wheel just like its sportier stalemates. Unlike some of its rivals, there's nothing flashy about the Cayenne's cabin, it's all about functionality - only the plethora of buttons on the center stack will necessitate the bifocals to see what's what. The nav system works well enough once you get the hang of it, and the Bose stereo will play your favorite tracks with impressive clarity and volume. We really like the robust grab handles that sprout out of the center console, something folks who have taken the Cayenne out in the rough back country no doubt appreciate as well.

Those owners who do venture off the beaten path will be able to traverse some pretty formidable terrain. Porsche engineers worked tirelessly to ensure that

Grab handles feel rock-solid and are in the right place for easy access. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

their SUV would be peerless off road. Extensive development took place in such remote locales as the Arctic Circle and the Sahara Desert. An extremely capable four-wheel drive system coupled to an advanced suspension means that there's very little that will stop the Cayenne. Even more off-road prowess is available if buyers check the option box that selects the Offroad Technology Package which includes underbody protection and a rear locking differential, as well as the pièce de résistance
air suspension with PASM. Ground clearance can be adjusted on a whim, depending on the terrain.

Earlier we alluded to the Cayenne's slick on-road behavior, and it's even more impressive when you consider how capable the thing is off-road. Porsche accomplished what so many automotive manufacturershave tried to do, having arrived at the perfect compromise between ride and handling. We should stress that were talking about this in a sport utility context; you won't confuse it with any other Porsche when the road starts to wind. Still, whether the road is straight and smooth or curvy and bumpy it never puts a wheel wrong. It's

With almost 390 hp, the Cayenne S is better equipped to tow and haul than its V6-powered sibling. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

quite impressive when you are able to make a vehicle like the Cayenne (with its stature and weight) negotiate corners with ease even without the roll-negating air suspension and active chassis.

Further helping the Cayenne deliver an unparalleled driving experience is its six-speed automatic transmission. It'll punch through the gears with firmness and authority when in Sport or Tiptronic mode, and will melt from one gear to the next when you're oozing through traffic. The Cayenne is also so solid and quiet, giving the impression the whole thing was cast from one solid piece of steel.

Ease is the best word to describe how the Cayenne goes downthe road. With 385 horsepower under your right foot, acceleration is far more effortless than with the base V6. When it leaves the line it treats occupants to a healthy V8 soundtrack that increases in urgency as the tach needle swings towards redline. It makes more power than many of its rivals, most specifically the BMW X5 and the Range Rover Sport HSE, and nearly as much as LR's top of the line Supercharged model. There's plenty of off the line grunt augmented by a strong rush of power at the top end. Thankfully, the Cayenne benefits from legendary Porsche brakes; stopping was never an

The V8 is more than enough... but for some who may disagree, there's always the awesome Turbo. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

issue, and the brakes were always remarkably powerful and fade free, albeit a bit touchy. Over the course of our time with the Cayenne we visited the gas station more often than we would have liked, but no doubt we could have prolonged those visits had we been more mindful with the throttle. Still, it's a thirsty vehicle.

To put a Cayenne in your driveway you'll need two things. First of all, you need to appreciate the work that Porsche's engineers poured into this vehicle. Not only to differentiate it from its platform engineered cousins, but also to provide an uncompromisingly good driving experience for those who drive it. You'll also need some sort of home remedy in dealing with what's commonly known as sticker shock. Our Cayenne S rang in at around $68,000, not exactly a thrifty price tag. That figure can grow much larger as you add options. Consider that if you want to have colored Porsche crests grace the center of your wheels it's going to cost you 185 dollars (more than the price to upgrade to the 18-inch Turbo-style wheels, which sets you back 150 dollars.) For those that meet these criteria, such “issues” are merely details. Really, if you are looking for an SUV that excels on and off the road and exudes style and prestige, the Cayenne S satisfies thoroughly.

Specifications (Porsche Cayenne S):

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