Over the years, Porsche has blessed sports car enthusiasts with some of the most legendary vehicles in history. When discussing the German automaker, almost certainly mentioned in the same breath is the 911. In truth, Porsche has only sold a handful of distinct models, with the 911 as the one constant in the stable. In recent years the flagship model was accompanied by the 928 and the 944, but currently shares the dealership showroom with only one other line - the Boxster. So when Porsche announced production plans in 1998 for a rare third model to join the 911 and the Boxster, no one expected that model to be an SUV! The initial reaction to the Cayenne was mixed, to say the least. What business does Porsche have building an SUV when the company's reputation is staked on building superior sports cars? The answer is simple: practicality. Until the release of the Cayenne, consumers had few practical reasons to buy a Porsche. They are expensive to own and maintain, and they are not everyday cars. A 911 owner's drive to work in the morning certainly would be the high point of his day, but he probably wouldn't be able to pick up the kids after school - and definitely not in the snow. With scenarios like this in mind, suddenly the wisdom behind a Porsche SUV seems clear. But of course, for any car to carry the Porsche name and properly represent the heralded tradition of the company, it would have to perform like one of the best sports cars in the world. In this case, it would also have to perform like one of the best SUVs in the world, as well. By putting both requirements together, Porsche has realized perhaps the first true sport-utility vehicle. "The Cayenne is the first vehicle to really put the sport into sport-utility," says Frederick J. Schwab, former president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "I know that others have made a similar boast, but we're confident that the Cayenne will more than live up to that claim. The Cayenne may have the architecture of an SUV, but it has the soul that is part of every Porsche product," Schwab adds. Shame on us lest we forget to mention the exterior styling of the Cayenne. While the company's engineers made sure the Cayenne drove like a Porsche, the designers were called upon to make sure the Cayenne looked like a Porsche. Even to the casual observer, the lineage of the Cayenne should be immediately obvious. The large front air intakes, the headlights, the wide rear fenders, and the sloping tail line are all design elements inspired by the current 911. "To design a new Porsche is something special," says Stephen Murkett, design manager for the new Porsche Cayenne. "To create a new category of vehicle is a wonderful challenge. Our goal was to apply typical Porsche form and character to a sport utility vehicle, combining sporting and practical attributes in one homogeneous package - as with every Porsche." As the 2003 Cayenne hits North American showrooms this spring, each and every one is already spoken for. Expect to see one fast approaching in a rearview mirror near you... By Ayman Shairzay www.porsche.com