Originally shown in Frankfurt, the Porsche Cayenne GTS got its North American debut this morning in Chicago. In an event held during a reporters' breakfast at the Chicago Auto Show, the new Cayenne GTS was trumpeted, as well as plans to add a hybrid version to the SUV lineup.
After years of dirtying-the-air accusations by environmentalists, Porsche has gone all-in on the green bandwagon. The company has been touting its Earth-friendly street cred by reminiscing about zero emission and hybrid models Ferdinand Porsche displayed in Paris 107 years ago.
Porsche is also planning a Panamera Hybrid.
The Porsche Cayenne GTS will be top of the line for Cayenne owners in terms of on-road capability. Powered by a 4.8 liter direct-injection V8 producing 405 horsepower, the SUV goes 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The GTS will also be outfitted with a six-speed manual transmission; a first for any Porsche V8 sold in the U.S. 21-inch alloy wheels come standard, as well as air suspension, and the Porsche Active Suspension Management system. Alcantara also comes standard inside the vehicle.
Despite Porsche's claims about its environmentally friendly past and future, their present is still pretty smoggy. The Cayenne GTS gets just 15.54 miles per gallon. That is 14% lower than the quicker, more powerful, and lighter weight BMW X6 xDrive50i. The BMW competitor will be available in the states later this year.
The Porsche Cayenne GTS is now on sale in North America at a retail price of $69,300.
Top handling Cayenne makes its North America debut at centennial show
ATLANTA, February 7, 2008 – As Chicago was holding its first successful auto show in 1901, Professor Ferdinand Porsche was showing his latest project in Paris, France. The Lohner-Porsche, the first successful zero emission vehicle on the market generated great interest at the Paris Auto Show in 1900, as did the Lohner-Porsche Hybrid that followed closely on its heels when it was unveiled in 1901.
The inventive design, without a transmission or gearbox, established the then 24-year-old as a pioneer in the early days of the automobile. Shortly thereafter, Ferdinand Porsche added two internal combustion engines to charge the batteries for the front wheel hub motors, thus creating the world’s first hybrid.
More than 100 years after Ferdinand Porsche’s innovative work, and its debut in Paris, the engineers at Porsche’s Research and Development Center in Weissach, Germany, have returned to Ferdinand’s basic concept and are busy developing the Cayenne hybrid, and soon to follow, the Panamera Hybrid.
While the Porsche Hybrid Systems are in development, the latest edition of the Cayenne family, the Cayenne GTS, makes its debut in Chicago. While the Cayenne has already earned a reputation for exceptional on and off-road handling characteristics, the new Cayenne GTS will offer the best on-road characteristics of any Cayenne to date.
The GTS features the same 4.8 liter, direct injection V-8 engine as the Cayenne S but a larger intake manifold and other modifications allow it to produce an impressive 405hp. And for the first time in North America, you can have a Porsche V-8 paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The GTS is equipped with 21-inch alloy wheels carrying 295/35 R21 tires that, when combined with standard air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management, offer remarkable street handling that most would never equate to a sport utility vehicle.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing.h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 212 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.
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