ATLANTA - Underscoring its confidence for expansion in its biggest growth market, Porsche today debuted the top-of-the line Cayenne Turbo S at Auto China 2008, and for the first time in Asia showed the prototype Cayenne Hybrid.

“China is playing an increasingly significant role and has now become one of Porsche’s most important growth drivers worldwide,” said Klaus Berning, Board Member with responsibility for Sales and Marketing during a press briefing at the auto show. In only a few years, China’s sales volume has grown from about 250 deliveries in 2003/2004 to 3,105 in 2006/2007 (double from the previous year). For the coming year, Porsche predicts a growth percentage in high double figures.

Porsche expects launching the new Cayenne Turbo S in China will resonate well with customers there, where 2,510 Cayennes or more than 80 percent Porsche’s total volume were sold last year.

With the rapid growth in sales, Porsche correspondingly plans to expand its dealerships in the country from 19 currently to 30 by the end of this year. Appropriately, Beijing was the city where the first Porsche Center opened its doors in 2001.

The Cayenne Turbo S shown at the Beijing Auto Show is the most powerful Cayenne ever built with a 4.8 liter V-8 twin-turbo powerplant that produces 550 horsepower. This new model was produced in response to customer demand from all over the world, especially in the emerging markets where vehicles with exclusive heritage and performance are in high demand. Remarkably, even with a 10% horsepower increase over the Cayenne Turbo, the new Cayenne Turbo S shares identical mileage figures (based on European Operating Cycle).

The Cayenne Turbo S will be available in the United States in August.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc, based in Atlanta, GA, and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada.

Courtesy: Porsche Cars North America Inc

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 21 April, 2008 3:49:23 PM IST #