Porsche Faces “Mild Recession” with Spicier Cayenne

The AP reports that Porsche's U.S. sales are falling, particularly in the past two to three months. (As have sales of BMW, Ferrari, Lexus, Jaguar and Lincoln.) Porsche Prez and CEO Peter Schwarzenbauer reckons the luxury car segment will have a tough time compared to 2007. Meanwhile… Porsche has unveiled their latest Cayenne variant at the Chicago Auto Show. Automotive News [AN, sub] reports the Cayenne GTS is powered by a 4.8-liter direct-injected V8 putting out 425 hp (the Porsche press release says 405). Regardless, it'll be enough horsepower to slot the hotrod SUV between the Cayenne S and the Cayenne Turbo. The GTS will be available with a six-speed manual transmission, making it the first Porsche to offer both a V8 and a six-speed. While we're down with Porsche's commitment to vehicular evolution (however incremental), you have to wonder why the Sultans of Stuttgart are putting this much effort into an SUV– when the same drivetrain would be perfect for a resurrection of the 928. A move like that would make a lot more sense for the sports car brand than the hybrid Cayennes and four-door Panameras about to start rolling out of Stuttgart. Just sayin'… 

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Source: Porsche Faces “Mild Recession” with Spicier Cayenne

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