Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg

Both the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg made their public debuts at Geneva, the two vehicles once again part of joint cooperation between what are now one and the same company.

However, it was the car from Stuttgart that garnered the most interest. Porsche's aims for this project where to increase the social and environmental awareness of this model, as well as improving on-road performance, and the styling reflects that crusade. The new car is longer and wider yet lower, and the much more steeply raked frontage and generally more curvaceous body strike a definite contrast to the previous bluff-faced model that did nothing to hide its bulky off-road pretensions; this is an SUV that isn't going to look quite so intimidating in the rear-view mirror of a supermini. Nevertheless, the new Cayenne is another Porsche that follows the established book of 911-sourced design cues, and intentionally - headlamps, grille and detailing are all familiar.

It's inside though that Porsche has made perhaps the biggest gain. Borrowing heavily from the Panamera, the Cayenne features the same high-set centre console and myriad of switchgear, but with a wide range of materials and trim choices all finished to a very high quality standard. Rear legroom has been improved, with the rear seats moving backward or forward depending on the priority of luggage space or accommodation. All together, it's a tremendous step forward from the old model that was really beginning to feel its age inside.

The Touareg is a logical continuation of the previous car, albeit with the new Cayenne/Touareg technology under the skin. The exterior is strongly reminiscent of the old model, but with the much more angular grille and headlamp treatment that can be found on the current Golf and Polo models. Inside, it's a typically high quality interior from Volkswagen, but it lacks the individuality and verve of the Porsche treatment.