Cayenne Goes High Performance With GTS Variant
Porsche AG recently launched a new variant of their then controversial, but now popular Sports Utility Vehicle, the Cayenne GTS, in sunny Portugal. AUTOWORLD sent our special test driver, Ikuno-san there to attend the international media event, getting behind the wheel of their most sporting and dynamic SUV variant in the lineup, born out of Porsche’s tradition in motorsports. This is his personal report:-
With the moniker GTS, this particular Cayenne is fitted with steel springs with PASM Porsche Active Suspension Management, making it the only Cayenne variant to have the same chassis setup as the legendary 911 Turbo.
The GTS also boasts an increase in the power department, up 20bhp, with the direct gasoline injection 4.8-liter V8 engine pushing out 405bhp (298kW) at 6500rpm, and a tree stump pulling 500Nm (369lb-ft) of torque at 3500rpm, but yet reducing fuel consumption by 15%. This increase in power, coupled with a shortened final drive ratio from 3.55:1 to 4.1:1, makes the Cayenne GTS sprint from 0-100kph in a g-force induced 6.1sec, but with a lower top speed of ‘only’ 253kph.
As with any Porsche, you may specify the optional air suspension, which comes with PDDC Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, that incorporates two hydraulic actuated active anti-roll bars, which stiffens up if the lateral g-force is more than 0.6g. This gives virtually zero-roll as the GTS attacks the twisties, giving significantly improved handling compared to normal steel anti-roll bars.
Visually, the exterior takes on the Cayenne Turbo’s flared arches, increased further by 14mm, to accommodate the standard issue massive 21-inch rims with 295/35 tires. The suspension is further lowered by 24mm, and negative camber is dialed in to give better cornering abilities, compared to the Cayenne and Cayenne S. Apart from the usual colours available on the Cayenne range, the GTS also comes exclusively with 2 additional colours, GTS Red and Nordic Gold Metallic.
We took the Cayenne GTS on a 300km drive around sunny Portugal; the drive consisted of a mixture of highways and narrow back roads up in the hills of Sierra de Monchique, the very same tarmac roads used for the Rally of Portugal special stages. Having been allocated a manual 6 speed, PDDC equipped air suspension, left hand drive model, we can attest that all claims by Porsche AG that the GTS is the most sporting and dynamically focused Cayenne ever built, is incredibly true. Frantic acceleration through the gears, massive stopping ability from its legendary 6 pot front, 4 pot rear brakes and cornering like it was on rails, is what the Porsche engineers tuned the Cayenne GTS to be, traits that you find akin more to Japanese turbo charged 4wd rally specials, leaving no doubt that the GTS lives true to its Porsche motorsports heritage.
No price has been announced for Malaysia by Auto Eurokars Sdn Bhd yet, but expect it to be priced in-between the Cayenne S and the Cayenne Turbo when it lights up our shores.
