Porsche with good value
A 380hp Porsche for Boxster money in Thailand? Welcome to the Cayenne S Hybrid
Local Porsche fans must be truly delighted now that its sales agent has brought forward the date it was supposed to bring hybrid technology to Thailand.
It's not because Thais have been crying out for green technology, nor are such hybrid-powered Porsches capable of yielding fuel economy levels matching those of Ecocars or the Toyota Prius.
The real reason for celebration is price. Porsches are usually subject to 50% maximum excise tax due to their performance-deriving engines. Now, there's a 10% special rate for hybrid-equipped cars whose engines don't exceed 3,000cc.
That's why the all-new Cayenne S Hybrid is priced unusually low at 7.9 million baht in Thailand. Okay, that's still high when you compare it with prices in other countries due to the high import duty of 80%.
But hadn't there been that 10% excise duty, AAS Auto Service calculated that the Hybrid would have officially cost 12.1 million _ one-third higher for a difference of 4.2 million baht _ that's good enough to net you a Merc SLK.
In fact, the Hybrid now seems to be exceptional value for a Porsche. With a combined output of 380hp, it is second fastest to the 500hp Turbo which retails at some 10 million baht more.
No wonder AAS Auto only wishes to concentrate on sales of the Hybrid because even the basic Cayenne with a 300hp V6 petrol costs more at 8.8 million baht.
And boy, the performance you get in the Hybrid is nothing other than purely rewarding. Thanks to a new 3.0-litre supercharged V6 _ also used by Audi and Volkswagen _ the Hybrid is effortless, quick and responsive.
It accelerates away from standstill with your back firmly clutched to the seat. And practically anywhere in the mid-ranges, power pick-up is impressive thanks not only to the supercharger but also the new eight-speed automatic transmission driving the four wheels.
Prod the throttle and the gearbox changes down; give a little more pressure and come double kickdown. The linearity of responsiveness is just to your liking.
You really won't be craving any more performance, unless you have driven the Turbo which is blindingly quick and probably a little too much for Thai road conditions. The Turbo seems to be more suitable for 200kph-plus blasts on the German autobahn.
Just don't expect the Hybrid's drivetrain to sound sensational. Actually, it sounds like any other ordinary V6, but that is forgiven because we're talking about an SUV in the first place and not a 911 sports car.
The presence of electric assistance also helps add more oomph in a straight line. But it crucially helps for pure electric driving at low speeds for short distances.
Okay, 12kpl on average is not really that impressive these days, but that figure is for a 380hp machine. And to top it off, a generous 85-litre fuel tanks helps extend the touring range of the Hybrid by a fair distance.
The good bits of this Cayenne obviously don't stop here, as we are talking about an all-new generation that comes with a host of other improvements.
Porsche has tried to inject more dynamism in the Cayenne by making it wider, lower and lighter than before. By shedding some 150-200 kilos, the Cayenne now weighs some 2.2 tonnes, if still on the heavy side.
But you don't really feel that obesity on the move. The Cayenne manoeuvres around town in such a manner that it doesn't feel like a two-tonner. Yes, it feels more nimble than before.
Making up for such driving agility is a steering that is nearly perfectly weighted for an SUV that should be equally as easy to drive and convincing to handle at higher speeds.
The Cayenne maintains many of the brand's virtues. The car feels composed at even the most insane speeds without compromising on a stiff ride.
In fact, you would hardly desire the optional three-step suspension system, unless you like a really flat ride at high speeds. Our test car didn't come with it and the suspension can sometimes prove a little soft over sharp high-speed crests.
The other convincing trait of the Cayenne inherited from other Porsches is the brakes that are responsive and strong, even from high speeds starting with the number 2.
So yes, the Cayenne is more fun and convincing to drive than before. Since the focus is now (and rightly) on the tarmac, some sheen in off-road ability has been taken away _ if you're really concerned about trekking in the jungle in a Porsche.
The rest of the new Cayenne is very evolutionary in improvement _ something that has become so typical of Porsche. So good news for happy fans and less so for people in their mid-life crisis.
The design, for one, is merely a smooth transition from the old model. Gone are those bloated and grossly proportions, in favour of more car-like and sleeker lines. It surely makes the predecessor look old.
The same goes for the Cayenne's interior which now comes in line with other contemporary Porsches. The steering is the familiar three-spoker, while the fascia has a whiff of the Panamera about it which is to say that it could look busy at first sight but tolerable after some time.
The trapezoidal handbars on the console are now becoming a Cayenne hallmark, but whether they are of much use is another thing. As ever, build quality is impeccably solid; likewise for the materials inside that exude genuine avant-gardeness.
Since inception the Cayenne has always been a five-seater, and it remains the same today. That means there is adequate occupant and cargo space, although you really can't describe the Cayenne as utterly practical because it more or less stands between the family-oriented X5 and sport-minded X6 from BMW.
Like in the Panamera, the fascia can look a little busy at first sight; build quality is impeccable.
Overall, the Cayenne in Hybrid form is quite impressive. It makes the Lexus RX450h, the only other hybrid-powered SUV available in the Thai market, weak on the move, shoddy to drive and cheap to sit in.
No, if you want economy, go straight to the 240hp diesel Cayenne priced at 9.9 million baht which, in turn, sounds pricey. The Cayenne Hybrid isn't about frugality. It's still about performance, just that it costs ridiculously cheap as a Boxster.
Cayenne remains a fiveseater.
The Cayenne could be considered as a new stepping stone into the Porsche world, which is also to say that, in Hybrid form, it is great value in Thailand. Quite mystifying, you may say.
Test car courtesy of BRG, an independent importer quoting between 6.49-7.49 million baht for the Cayenne S Hybrid depending on options.
AT A GLANCE
Styling ................................. 6/10
Unsurprisingly, Porsche has given the new Cayenne an ultra-evolutionary design which, at least, looks tidier than before. The same goes for the interior.
Performance ........................ 9/10
The supercharged V6 motor feels powerful and responsive at all times and rightly deserves to be second fastest after Turbo. Electric coupling is seamless.
Handling/ride ....................... 9/10
Despite its weight, the Cayenne feels remarkably agile and easy to drive. High-speed stability is excellent and it hasn't compromised on ride comfort.
Practicality .......................... 7/10
The Cayenne is a proper five-seat SUV like most of its intended rivals, but is more about occupant comfort rather than versatility.
Safety kit ............................. 8/10
The Cayenne comes with all the expected features governing both active and passive safety. Just don't expect any innovations.
VERDICT .............................. 9/10
Compared to the outgoing model, the Cayenne has practically improved in all aspects. But the most interesting bit of Porsche's latest SUV is the hybrid's ability to yield a substantially lower price yet maintain meaty performance. It's great value from this perspective.
You really won’t be craving any more performance, unless you have driven the Turbo which is blindingly quick and probably a little too much for Thai roads.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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