Porsche: Refuse to be Defeated by Ford, Holden

Porsche majority stockholder of Volkswagen andWinkler also rebuts reports that suggest that a
recipient of quality Volkswagen auto components suchPorsche is slower than a fleet Falcon. He said that
as VW oxygen sensors—have denied recently thesuch damaging reports can put the Porsche brand in a
accusations that it has used the Cayenne V6bad light. The report that Winkler is pointing at the
exclusivity to boost profits.report found on the enthusiast magazines that claimed
The company was very pleased with its entry-levelthey have timed a Falcon and a Cayenne, and found
version of the Cayenne off-roader. Unfortunately theout that the Falcon can reach 100km/h in less than 8
Volkswagen-powered V6 variant was not able toseconds while the Cayenne V6 is claimed to take 8.5
make it at the launching of the updated Cayenne.seconds.
The new Cayenne that was recently presented to theBMW also boasts of a 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds
media in North-Eastern Victoria is part of a mid-lifeperformance time delivered by its X5 3.0 liter engine,
upgrade for the Cayenne large four-wheel drive whichwhich they claimed is 0.4 sec faster than Porsche.
was first launched in the mid of 2003. The update thatEven the diesel X5 is just 0.1 seconds off the
includes some major styling and mechanicalCayenne’s pace.
modifications were not only employed on the newThere was no way for the Australian media to verify
Cayenne but across the range.whether the Cayenne V6 is really the fastest car in its
The model range has increased from two to threeclass or whether it possess the level of performance
and currently includes the entry-level Cayenne V6 withand exclusivity that buyers expect since the Cayenne
a price tag of $97,400. It’s the first under $100,000V6 was not present at the media launch. Porsche
new Porsche since the last 944 coupe created by theCars Australia took six cars to Australia for the said
German sports car manufacturer in 1986.launch and not one of them was a Cayenne V6—all
The Cayenne Turbo (V8) and the Cayenne S (V8)were V8 models.
both have bigger engines and delivers more power butWinkler also denies reports that the Cayenne V6 will
despite the engine size, Porsche claims that these twoshare the 3.6 liter V6 engine with a $20,000 cheaper
Cayenne models deliver fuel economy of up to 15Volkswagen Touareg together with the $84,900 aUDI
percent. Aside from that, the styling changes wereq7 would not help the Cayenne at all. He said, "No, I
also made to a minimal just enough to freshen thedon't think they would know this. Remember, too, our
two-toned SUV’s look and improves itsengine is more powerful [by just 7kW] and has been
aerodynamic performance.engineered to suit the character and performance
Last 2004 the Cayenne sales reached only 562 butPorsche buyers expect."
unfortunately for Porsche four-door by the year 2005Porsche is expecting that the V6 variant to increase
its sales plunge to 414 and further decline in 2006 atby at least 30 percent the demand for Cayenne.
332 units sold. But Porsche Cars Australia managingWinkler told au in an interview that in case demand
director Michael Winkler is optimistic that the new lookssurpasses such target, Porsche would take steps to
of the Cayenne plus the introduction of the V6 enginetighten supply.
would finally help the range to recover.