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Re: 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV Leaks Out: First Official Images and Details – Carscoop

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Carscoop.blogspot.com has the scoop on the updated Porsche Cayenne SUV: 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV Leaks Out: First Official Images and Details – Carscoop.

The Cayenne was very controversial originally for those who feel that Porsche should ONLY make sports cars.  Because it has sold well, some of those  voices have been drowned out.

The new Cayenne adapts some interior touches from the Porsche Panamera, and some external touches from the current 911.  Having fans note that the new design looks ‘less clumsy’ than the old design is faint praise at best.  This updated model is around 400 lbs lighter than the previous, but still heavy.

I would like to see Cadillac offer a V-Series SRX AWD with the 556 hp LSA engine, sport suspension, and Brembo brakes to compete in this market.

The 2011 Cayenne will have its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show early next week and go on sale this Spring.

Recaro Seats? Yes please

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Beginning in the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Cadillac has offered Recaro sport seats as an option. This continues a trend of using ‘name brand’ equipment, such as Brembo brakes, in order to ensure quality, performance, and credibility in automotive reviews.

I think of Recaro seats as Porsche seats, but what automobiles does Recaro currently make seats for?  This list comes from the Recaro website:

  • Aston Martin DB9
  • Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
  • Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  • Audi TT
  • Audi TT RS
  • Chevrolet Cobalt SS
  • Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
  • Ford Focus RS
  • Ford Focus ST
  • Honda Accord Type-R
  • Honda Integra Type-R
  • Honda NSX Type-R
  • Honda Odyssey
  • Lamborghini Gallardo
  • Mitsubishi Evo IX
  • Mitsubishi Lancer Wagon
  • Mitsubishi ek-Sports RS
  • Opel Astra OPC
  • Opel Insignia OPC
  • Opel Zafira OPC
  • Porsche 911 GT3 (997)
  • Porsche Carrera GT
  • Renault Clio „Renault Sport“
  • Renault Mégane Sport
  • Saturn Ion Redline
  • Suzuki Kei-Works
  • Suzuki Lapin
  • VW Golf V GTI
  • VW Golf V R32
  • VW Golf VI R

The Cadillac CTS Recaro Seats have gotten surprisingly mixed reviews — not uniformly positive.  I believe that this is partially due to lack of familiarity with this type of seat.  Owners who drive their Cadillac are more likely to appreciate the support provided:

Cadillac CTS Recaro Seats

The Recaro Seats as offered by Cadillac appear to be similar to the Recaro Style + Style Topline model in the Recaro Brochure.

Recaro Seat Features

The Recaro Company offers the following history (more available here):

The success story of the present RECARO company began in 1906 in Stuttgart, as the 32-year old saddler master Wilhelm Reutter founded the company “Reutter, Wilhelm, Saddler. Spezialitat: Luxus- und Motorwagen, englische Geschirre” (Specialities: Luxury and Motor Vehicles, English Ware). Reutter quickly made a name for itself in the up-and-coming automobile industry which was largely positioned in Stuttgart: Bosch, Maybach and Daimler were the big names which wrote history and laid the building blocks for the present location of mobility, Stuttgart.

The foundation for the present company was laid in 1963, as RECARO was formed as a play on words – Reutter and CAROsserien (coaches). The first RECARO sport seat was introduced in 1965, and in motor racing, the company quickly became a recognized brand name.

I applaud Cadillac for offering Recaro seats as an option, and I am glad to see the Recaro seat option available on the CTS Sedan as well as the CTS-V Series.

Cadillac CTS Coupe options mirror how I would market the CTS Sedan

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I like the way Cadillac plans to equip and market the new Cadillac CTS Coupe and CTS-V Couple.  The two will arrive in Cadillac show rooms this summer.

Where the CTS Sedan is offered with 3L V6 as the base model, and 3.6L V6 in the Premium or Performance models, the CTS Coupe comes only with the 3.6L in Performance or Premium, and then the CTS-V model.  One can select rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in either Performance or Premium.

I appreciate that Cadillac wants a range for the CTS, but the 3.0L offers NO appreciable fuel economy difference, and must cost Cadillac the same amount to manufacture as the 3.6L.  I would prefer to see the CTS drop the 3L altogether, and offer the 3.6L throughout the range.  This would simplify the CTS Sedan order book to match the CTS Coupe selections.

For suspension options the CTS coupe offers the FE2 “Suspension, Sport”, with 18″ wheels, or the FE3 “Suspension, Performance” suspension tune, with 19″ wheels.  Both are good selections.  The CTS-V Coupe of course will get the FE4 “Suspension, Performance, with MR”, with 19″ wheels.  The MR suspension of course is a world-class magnetic suspension that is ideal in almost any application.

I wondered if we might see a bit more hp from Powertrain for the CTS Coupe.  But the engine outputs showing so far are identical to previous models:

  • CTS Coupe Engine, 3.6L Variable Valve Timing V6 DI Direct Injection (304 hp [226.7 kW] @ 6400 rpm, 273 lb-ft of torque [368.6 N-m] @ 5200 rpm)
  • CTS-V Coupe Engine, 6.2L supercharged V8 (556 hp [414.6 kW] @ 6100 rpm, 551 lb-ft of torque [734.9 N-m] @ 3800 rpm)

All CTS Coupe models will come with limited slip differential.  The CTS Coupe will receive a slightly more aggressive final drive ratio, which should improve acceleration.

Cadillac has not yet announced the CTS Coupe pricing, but one can expect it to be above the CTS Sedan 3.6L Performance Model at $43K and CTS Sedan Permium Model  at $49K.  I of course recommend that Cadillac re-price the entire line, dropping the 3L option for the Sedan and holding prices across the Sedan to $35K-45K.  I would also price the Coupe in the $40K-45K range, but I suspect that Cadillac will price it in the $48K-55K range, filling the gap between the CTS 3.6L Premium Sedan at $49K and the CTS-V Sedan at $62K.