Previously secret Porsche Cayenne Convertible prototype revealed

Porsche have released images plus details of a previously secret convertible prototype of the original first generation Cayenne. According to the Stuttgart-based sportscar brand, this prototype predates the Range Rover Evoque Convertible by a good 14 years.

The prototype Cayenne, shown recently to commemorate the model's 20th anniversary, is not a road car. Instead, it is a 'package function model,' which is effectively a mobile chassis that was employed internally for design and ergonomic development throughout the year 2002.

The exceedingly unusual, asymmetrical rear end resulted from internal arguments on regarding the rear end's appearance, therefore two versions were grafted on side-by-side. The left side is generally akin to that of the Porsche Carrera GT supercar's rakish, low-set tail. The right side, on the other hand, sees high-mounted taillights resembling those on the first-generation Porsche Panamera, which did not arrive until 2009, or seven years later.

Aside from the apparent Targa-style roof, other differences to the base first-gen Cayenne include a two-door bodystyle and apertures that are 200mm longer than the base Cayenne.

The goal of this research, according to Porsche, was to establish whether a Targa-topped Cayenne would be suitable for rear passengers, and to build a fast-folding soft-top.

In terms of the latter, Porsche engineers chose a system identical to what's employed by the modern Porsche 911 Targa. It had a bootlid that opened from the front and back to swallow either the top or house your baggage. Additionally, it was envisioned for this system to also include a motorised roller that folded the roof in a Z-pattern.

However, because this mechanism was never installed on the automobile, the roof on this prototype had to be manually attached instead.

The convertible Cayenne was never developed further than this stage because Porsche began questioning its profitability, and was split on whether it suited the rest of its line up visually.

The danger of launching such a forward-thinking product – the contentious Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet didn't emerge until 2011, and the Evoque Convertible didn't arrive for another five years – was likely seen too high by then-CEO Wendelin Wiedeking. 

Wiedeking is widely regarded for rescuing Porsche from the brink of bankruptcy in the early 1990s, and he presided over the Cayenne's introduction. Following the global financial crisis in 2009, he was compelled to resign.

Porsche Chief Designer Michael Mauer mentioned that an SUV as a convertible is a challenge both visually and formally.  "An SUV always has a huge and substantial body," he noted. He also added that when you combine this with a little top half and then take off the roof, you get pretty weird designs. 

Porsche also examined a coupé and a long-wheelbase, seven-seat Cayenne concepts, but did not pursue either as far as they did with the convertible. The concept of a coupé was revived in the late 2010s, culminating to the release of the current Porsche Cayenne Coupé in 2019.

The seven-seater, on the other hand, was never released. However, Porsche's recently announced flagship electric SUV to slot above the Cayenne might fill this position, albeit in spirit. It will be built on the new Volkswagen Group SSP platform, which will also be used as the basis of the next-generation Porsche Panamera and Porsche Taycan models.