gemballa tornado

2011 Porsche Cayenne Tornado by Gemballa

There comes a time in every automaker's history when the founder dies and his successors are left to carry on his legacy. Unfortunately in the case of Uwe Gemballa, the cause of his death was anything but natural, ties with organized crime coming into play after his body was found in South Africa.

The task now falls on the shoulders of newly-installed chief executive Andreas Schwarz, and this is the first new vehicle developed under his stewardship. Based on the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne, the latest Gemballa Tornado cuts a mean-looking profile. Considerable development has gone into recrafting the SUV's body out of carbon fiber (instead of merely applying the material over the existing metal body as Schwarz insists many competitors do), giving it an aggressive look while shedding some 150 lbs of excess weight in the process.

Further details are expected to follow, including those related to the interior, the engine (700 horsepower through a Stage 2 turbocharger kit is the target) and pricing, with only 30 examples slated for production.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Cayenne Tornado by Gemballa