You know that little box you can tick when you book a flight, the one that says you'll pay a little extra to plant some trees and offset your carbon footprint? Performance SUVs should be like that box. For every Giulia Quadrifoglio we must plant 10 Stelvios, every Continental GT3-R takes 20 Bentaygas, and every
4.0-litre, manual GT3
requires offsetting with a few dozen Cayennes and Macans. Balance is maintained, and those of us who want to continue spending money on objectively frivolous, but subjectively wonderful, experiences can do so. So rather than bemoaning the existence of the new Cayenne Turbo, as many petrolheads are wont to do, we should embrace it as the Yin to the 918's Yang, without which we would be deprived of seeing
cars like this
Those windows really are tinted, aren't they?
So, let's get down to it. This is the all-new Cayenne Turbo. It's powered by a 4.0-litre, 'hot-V' twin-turbo V8 (not the AMG one, but using similar tech), putting out 550hp and 570lb ft (versus 530hp and 555lb ft previously). 0-62mph is taken care of in 4.1 seconds - down from 4.5 - but that figure can be reduced further still, the addition of the Sport Chrono Package taking it as low as 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 177mph.
That hot-V design is important here too; it not only allows for improved throttle response but also for a smaller engine unit, positioned lower in the car than before. Probably why everyone is doing it now... Combined with the new 'lightweight' chassis, three chamber adaptive air suspension, and Porsche's Torque Vectoring Plus technology, that lower centre of gravity ought to have a noticeable effect on how the Cayenne Turbo handles - which is no bad thing. Optional automatic body roll stabilisation and rear-wheel steering taking things further still.
Monstrous acceleration and "the driving dynamics of a sports car" are all well and good, but no matter how lightweight that chassis is, you still fancy it'll take some stopping. Luckily there are high performance, tungsten carbide coated, brakes as standard with ceramic discs optional. And that's not all, the Cayenne Turbo now comes equipped with an active roof spoiler - think of those manual GT3s and don't mock - which, when in the airbrake position, shortens the stopping distance from 155mph by two whole metres. Likely as frequent an occurrence on the Autobahn as slowing from 30 to 25mph on the M3...
Wonder what it will do at the 'ring?
Externally the styling is caught up to the rest of Porsche's current line up, most noticeably at the rear where the somewhat bulbous form of the old car is sharpened up with that now familiar design. It's joined by 21-inch wheels, twin exhausts and a double row of DRLs at the front, all of which are unique to the Turbo. Inside, an all-new interior features 18-way power adjusted seats, a multi-function steering wheel and a 710 watt Bose Surround sound system.
So, should you be interested, the new Cayenne Turbo is available to order from today with prices starting at £99,291. And thank you, if you do buy one, on behalf of everyone who'll love the next Cayman GT4.
