You'd never think of taking a sport utility vehicle to the race track, would you?

Think again.

Porsche just came out with its new 2008 Cayenne, and it's the one SUV that you could take out to BeaveRun Raceway and feel totally confident doing so.

In the space of one frenetic day, I did just about everything you could imagine to the two Cayennes I drove. I plowed them through mud; tore down the drag strip, hitting 100 mph in less time than it took me to blink; and rode shotgun around a track at a breathtaking 160 mph. And I came away impressed.

This new Cayenne is the second generation for this model. The first one was launched in 2002, much to the chagrin of Porsche purists who attacked the company for introducing an SUV.

	This 2008 Cayenne is the second generation for the model launched in 2002. Click photo for larger image.

Of course, it's easy to complain when you aren't paying the bills or competing in the market with an increasingly bewildering number of products.

Clearly, somebody's not going to make it, and no doubt, Porsche didn't want to be the odd carmaker out.

Porsche officials knew full well that if they were to retain an independent company building fabulous sports cars, they needed to diversify and bring out at least one mainstream product.

If it worked, that product would broaden their market draw, give dealers more chances for profit, and serve notice that the company was not about to be painted into a corner by the blurring changes under way in the auto market at large.

That product -- the Cayenne -- has worked.

So what's changed in the redesigned model?

First, there's the look. Though the basic theme and broad elements remain in place, the new Cayenne looks more graceful and balanced than the old model. The old model looked somewhat awkward because the grill design and some other styling elements made it look high and narrow.

But with a new front end, broad wheel arches, lower hood line and more dramatic, aggressive looking headlight designs, the new Cayenne seems more balanced, muscular and confident.

There's new technology, too. An optional Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control feature with active anti-roll bars basically eliminates body roll when you are heading around curves. There's also a rollover sensor that will engage the belt latch tensioners and prepare the air bags if you experience an emergency.

In addition, all Cayenne engines now have a standard push-button Sports mode, which results in instant, solid acceleration when you want it.

There's a Cayenne base model that starts at $43,800, powered by a 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6; a Cayenne S that starts at $57,900 and comes with a 385-horsepower, 4.8-liter V-8; and a Cayenne Turbo starting at $93,700.

That last one has a 500-horsepower, 4.78-liter V-8. With a top speed of 171 mpg, you hit 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.

So how does it drive? Like a Porsche.

You feel at one with the car. It goes precisely where you want it to go, with well-balanced steering that somehow manages to be compliant enough for the job, yet requires enough input and involvement that it keeps that sports car feel.

The suspension system absorbs even the worst bumps and potholes, as I discovered during some of the proving-ground exercises. The dynamic chassis control system keeps all the harshness and most of the body shake tightly reined in.

The fun that I had with the new Cayenne portends a week of blasts once I get my hands on it for an extended test. Stay tuned.