HAlmost 20 years ago, at the end of 2002Porsche has struck a major strategic blow (particularly for its bodies) with the appearance of the Cayenne. For the first time, driving a Stuttgart brand car was compatible with driving a big familydownload a lot of luggage and go through tracks and paths it had always been “off limits” for any Porsche.
But the history of the German SUV has aspects which were secret at the time and which now we can meet. One is how the luxury 4×4 concept could evolve for Porsche. Without prior experience in this field, the brand explored from the outset the possibility of expanding the Cayenne range with new variants To do this, consider the possibility of a three door coupeanother variant with a longer wheelbase of 20 cm to accommodate a third row of seatsand a boldness convertible versi.
Package function model
The fact that they were raised on paper did not mean that every proposal had to necessarily proceed to the prototype phase. However, in the case of convertible (which they called Convertible) they did.
The car built was not a working prototype, but what manufacturers call Package function model (PFM). Meda 4.8 meters longso it was a really bulky convertible, and of course the engineers and designers didn’t bother trying to compensate for the loss of stiffness that the chassis had undergone during the removal of the roof.
As a good GFP, its mission was only to be able to assess in real terms the aspects related to its aesthetic and his Feature. And four questions crossed the minds of the brand managers.
Four big questions
The first was if they perceived it from comfort will suffice whereas the windshield and front pillars were shorter and the rear seat narrower. The second, if it was convenient a car of this size with only two doors, which is 20 cm longer than those of the production model.
They also had to check whether it was possible for the hood It would fold quickly and when placed give an image of elegance and quality. And finally, they had to define the rear design of the car.
For the latter, they made the decision to split the back of the car in two halves, applying a different style on each side. And we dare to say (although everything is debatable) that the one on the passenger side was bolder for a car that should be revolutionary.
Ancestor of the current 911 Targa
The idea was that the roof had a anti-roll barlike all generations 911 Targa except for the girl 993 and 996. And the roof moved above the roll bar be “swallowed” under the huge trunk lid. That is to say that already at the time we had thought of the folding system, which 2014 will debut with the 911 Targa of the 991 generation. But this system was not fully developed, so the car was equipped for this full-size model with a screen awning which could be removed and stored in the trunk.
But the idea of Porsche Cayenne Convertible it was discarded Was it because some of these doubts were resolved with disastrous results? Absolutely. Quite simply, the brand made profitability forecasts and, unfortunately, it turned out that the car was not going to be profitable.
Michael Maurerreal Vice President of Porsche Design (then he did not hold this position) also specifies that he was a “both aesthetic and formal. An SUV always has a wide and heavy body. If combined with a small top half and you cut the roof, you get very strange shapes“.