MIGHTY 550HP CAYENNE TURBO REVEALED
The daddy of the new Cayenne range arrives
Last month we brought you news of the new third-generation iteration of Porsche's impossibly successful Cayenne SUV. Now we can reveal the daddy of the new range, the Cayenne Turbo – all 550bhp of it.
It's easy to forget that when Porsche first wheeled out the original Cayenne Turbo way back in the mists of 2002, the world hadn't really seen anything quite like it. What with 450bhp and capable of hitting 60mph in five seconds flat, it certainly delivered on the notion of Porsche creating a sports car among SUVS, on paper at least.
Fast forward to 2017 and the new Cayenne Turbo is described by Porsche as being the 'sports car for five'. It blitzes the sprint to 60mph in well under four seconds. For the record it ups the power and torque ante by 30hp and 15lb ft (now 568lb ft, all in) over the outgoing gen 2 Cayenne. Top speed is now 177mph. The engine, of course, is the same 4.0-litre mill seen in the latest Panamera, not to mention one or three other models within the wider VW Group empire.
Porsche reckons the Turbo's high level of dynamic performance is a function of a combination of innovative technologies, such as active aerodynamics including adjustable roof spoiler, controlled three-chamber air suspension, mixed tyres and new highperformance brakes. With optional features, such as rear-axle steering and automatic body roll stabilisation via a 48-volt electrical system, Porsche reckons the four door, four-wheel drive Cayenne can deliver a driving experience equivalent to that of a true sports car. Albeit a two-tonne sports car the size of a small house.
While the new engine may be familiar, the Cayenne's all-new chassis is not. It'll be the combination of Porsche's latest chassis wizardry in the form of air-sprung PASM suspension, rear-axle steering, roll stabilisation from the PDCC and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus along with that mighty V8 that will surely mark the new Turbo out from its predecessors.
The latest Cayenne Turbo is available to order now, priced from £99,291. First deliveries to Porsche Centres will be from April 2018. Customers will also be invited to explore the potential of their new car, and further develop their own skills behind the wheel, by participating in a bespoke driving experience around the tracks at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.
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