Status Design reimagines the Porsche Cayenne

Status Design Porsche CayenneThroughout its life, Porsche’s Cayenne hasn’t exactly come in for critical praise for its aesthetics, so thankfully it has always been just about peerless dynamically. Perhaps as a result of that observed deficiency, countless aftermarket companies have taken up the their pens and styling knives to try to improve upon Stuttgart’s controversial jack-of-all-trades. Suffice it to say that most of these sorts of efforts haven’t worked out terribly favorably.

The latest company to attempt rhinoplasty on the Cayenne is Russian outfit Status Design, whose grilled and gilled design is a radical departure from the standard SUV. Looking a bit like a Cayenne that’s swallowed a handful of Ferrari Enzo front clips, this Status Design effort has all manner of vents and inlets which hopefully enable better breathing – check out the NACA duct on the nose. There’s also an assortment of other changes, including a pair of odd flying buttress-like extensions below the rear-most pillar and some retro-minded color scallops on the side. It’s certainly a unique and eye-catching look – whether that’s a good thing is up to you.

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2012 Jaguar sports car to get Volt-like extended-range hybrid tech?

2012 Jaguar sports carRatan Tata, Jaguar’s owner, knows that the future of the company rests on “shiny and new” products. That’s why the XE roadster was reportedly moved to the front of the line and given a 2011 release date. If the soothsayers at Motor Trend are correct, Tata also understands that cleaner engines are the future of the industry itself, because the XE could also bolster Jaguar’s credentials by reportedly including the option of a Volt-like range-extending hybrid drivetrain.

The mooted gas-electric system is a conventional three-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an electric motor. It is also being suggested by MT that the concept XE may be fitted with that powerplant, but it might not make it to the production version.

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