Porsche, coming off record U.S. sales in '05, had two introductions at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. Making its world debut was a high-performance version of the already potent Cayenne Turbo SUV. Dubbed Cayenne S, it uses twin turbochargers to boost its 4.5-liter V8 to a massive 520 hp--sufficient, Porsche says, for 0-60-mph runs of 4.8 seconds and a 167-mph top speed. Larger brakes and other underskin upgrades help control the power, while standard 20-inch wheels and other unique cosmetic touches provide the appropriate Sunset Strip bling. The Turbo S goes on sale in mid February with a $59,800 base price.
| 2006 Porsche Cayman | |||
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Crowning the Porsche stand at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show was the Cayman S, basically a coupe version of the company's midengine Boxster convertible. Cayman was designed to bridge the price and performance gap between Boxster and Porsche's iconic 911 series. But the Cayman is more than just a hardtop Boxster, featuring many specific components including a 295-hp 3.4-liter flat-six engine, optimized suspension, and bigger brakes. Despite its higher dynamic performance, the Cayman is also more practical than the Boxster, with more luggage space beneath its rear hatch, plus a bit more head room. Cayman hits showrooms in mid January with a suggested retail price of $58,900. |
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 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show |