Porsche says its most athletic SUV lapped the North Loop of the famous Nürburgring in 7:59.74 minutes, claiming a new record for sport utility vehicles. The new Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, which just debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, is the most powerful and top model in the Cayenne lineup, with output of 570 horsepower and 590 pound-feet torque from its twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8.
Output is 20 hp greater than that of the previous model. Porsche achieves the advantage by incorporating turbochargers into the exhaust manifolds for quicker response and better combustion. The result is a .4-second advantage in 0 to 60 mph time – now a blistering 3.8 seconds – and a top speed of 176 mph.
It’s not only a powerful engine that helps the Cayenne Turbo S to achieve its record on the ‘Ring; a sophisticated suspension and powerful brakes contribute, too. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) minimizes body roll, and torque vectoring selectively applies braking to individual rear wheels to improve handling. The Cayenne Turbo S also gets standard carbon ceramic brakes, with ten-piston (yes, TEN) calipers up front and four-piston calipers at the rear. All-wheel drive sends power to the rear wheels permanently while transferring energy to the front wheels as needed.
Gloss black surrounds for the front air inlets and door mirror bottoms differentiate the exterior look, along with body-color wheel arch trim and rear spoiler. Wheels are 21-inch, with a design from the 911 Turbo and black-painted edges. Adaptive LED headlights are standard.
Inside, the Cayenne Turbo S gets a new black/crème color scheme and carbon trim.
Like the 911 Targa 4 GTS that also makes its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, the newest Cayenne is expected to arrive in Porsche showrooms late this April. The starting price for the quickest SUV ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordshleife: $157,300.
