2002 PORSCHE Cayenne (955) 4.5L V8 6MT AWD (345 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Porsche brand had important financial troubles. With a small lineup of vehicles, it needed something to go straight-up on the market. And that was the 2002 Cayenne. The SUV that saved the sports-car company.

First, it was a shock for the 911 fans. How could their favorite brand to launch a family SUV with the Porsche logo on it? Moreover, how could they do that by sharing the platform with a Volkswagen? Well, all that happened and it did happen to save the brand. And the first generation of the Cayenne was the best selling Porsche of all times until the end of its production.

The Cayenne had some design inspiration from its famous brother, the 911. The headlights resembled those from the Porsche 911-996 model. Some part of the front bumper also looked something like a 911. But the rest of the car was nowhere near any Porsche of any time. It was built with curved surfaces and a sloped tailgate. The taillights were big and tall when compared with those from a 911. Event their shape was different.

Inside the car, there were some Porsche details such as the instrument cluster and the key on the left side. The gearshift lever was the same as in the 911, but the seating position was higher. As a plus, though, there was enough room for three adults in the back and a pair of doors to access them.

Under the hood there were few engine options. It started with a 3.2-liter V6 and it went up to a turbocharged V8. A diesel version was added later.