Porsche builds 1 millionth Cayenne
Porsche this week celebrated the production of its one millionth Cayenne SUV.
The milestone vehicle, shown here on the production line at a Volkswagen Group plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, is a Cayenne GTS finished in Carmine Red. It’s destined for a customer in Germany.
It took the Cayenne just 18 years to reach the milestone. In comparison, Porsche’s iconic sports car, the 911, took more than half a century to do the same.
Porsche becomes more than a sports car company with launch of first-generation Cayenne in 2002
However, the Cayenne soon proved to be the sportiest of SUVs and in quick time became Porsche’s most popular model. In fact, the Cayenne helped save Porsche from serious financial hardship and also helped fund the development of further models, such as the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder.
After Porsche found success with the launch of the Boxster in the early 1990s, the automaker decided it was time for a third line, to create a firm footing for the company. The Cayenne was first announced in 1998, though at the time it was known only as Project Colorado. The goal for engineers was a vehicle that was powerful and dynamic and suitable for all types of terrain.
Developing the first-generation Porsche Cayenne
The decision was made to build the new plant in the German city of Leipzig, and in August 2002, two years after construction started, the plant was ready to go. A month later the Cayenne was revealed to the world in Paris.
Today, the Cayenne vies with its smaller brother, the Macan, in the sales race. Porsche has just expanded the line to include a coupe-like body style, and in the future we’re likely to see a battery-electric powertrain added.
Source motorauthority.com