By the mid 1990s, Porsche was in quite a bit of trouble. Even though they agreed to build the Mercedes 500E and Audi RS2 Avant in a bid to save themselves from bankruptcy, things weren't looking good for this historic and desirable performance car manufacturer. Realizing this, Porsche decided to adopt a new strategy, by way of introducing two new models. The first one, the Boxster, was designed as an entry point to Porsche ownership, for those who didn't want or couldn't afford a 911. The other was a luxury SUV called the Cayenne.
Instantly, the Cayenne was a runaway success, and it's credited with being one of the pieces of the puzzle that saved Porsche from bankruptcy. Small wonder that the Cayenne remains Porsche's best-selling model to this day, and it also remains one of the most dynamically sorted SUVs that money can buy. The third and current generation of the Cayenne also brought us the fastback coupe model and with that, a new performance model that can give other performance SUVs a run for their money: the new Cayenne Turbo GT.
Overview Of The Cayenne Turbo GT
The Cayenne Turbo GT is the most powerful and most expensive version of the Cayenne. Not just right now, but ever. Available only in fastback coupe form, this is the culmination of Porsche's engineering expertise, crammed into an SUV form factor.
The design remains mostly the same as the regular Cayenne Turbo Coupe, but the car pictured is nicely differentiated thanks to the bronze wheels and the unique pastel blue color. There's also a new lip spoiler at the front, a new roof spoiler, and a wider trunk spoiler, both of the latter providing real downforce. The Turbo GT also inherits the GTS model's twin exhaust pipes mounted in the center. The Turbo GT faces competition from the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, the BMW X6 M, the Audi RS Q8, the Bentley Bentayga Speed and the Lamborghini Urus.
Cayenne Turbo GT Powertrain And Drivetrain
The Cayenne Turbo GT is available with only one powertrain. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is the same lump you find in the regular Cayenne Turbo and the GTS, but it's been dialed up to produce 631 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque. Changes to the engine include more boost from the turbochargers, various changes to the fuel system and intercooler, and an uprated crankshaft. This makes the Turbo GT the most powerful ICE-only Cayenne, as the 671-hp Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid has an electric component. Porsche also says that this is the most powerful V8 engine they've ever built.
All of that power is sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Turbo GT is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, as long as the Sport Chrono package is fitted. That's slightly faster than the Urus, despite it using the same engine and having 10 more hp. The top speed, meanwhile, is electronically limited to 186 mph. The Turbo GT also sits on lowered springs and receives some truly massive ceramic brakes; 440 mm discs at the front, 410 in the back. All of these changes have allowed the Cayenne Turbo GT to achieve the Nurburgring lap record for SUVs: 7 minutes, 38.9 seconds. That's around 3 seconds quicker than the related Audi RSQ8, which was also the previous record holder.
Comfort And Quality In The Cayenne Turbo GT
On the inside, the interior is not dissimilar to what you'd find in a regular Cayenne. However, there are a few subtle tweaks. The steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara, and has a yellow stripe at the top to let the driver know where the center is. The Turbo GT also receives unique upholstery, with the "Turbo GT" script embroidered onto the headrests. The tachometer is also trimmed in gold, though this being a Porsche, it's safe to assume that various other colors are available too.
Sitting right below the Sport Chrono stopwatch/clock combo is an overhauled 12.3-inch infotainment system. While some essential items are hidden away in the screen, it should be responsive and easy to use. Android Auto is also now finally available alongside Apple CarPlay. Right below the screen are a few shortcuts for the climate controls, as well as the gear selector. Options here include a 1455w Burmester stereo and a rear seat entertainment system. Safety is the same as all other Cayenne models, meaning adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert and blindspot monitoring, among others, are all present.
Cayenne Turbo GT Pricing And Launch
The Cayenne Turbo GT will launch in the United States from early 2022, but it's available to order and configure right now. Prices start at $182,150, which is serious money. It's more expensive than the X5 M and X6 M and the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S. Yet between the crazy engineering, endless power, pin sharp handling, and the bragging rights of the Nurburgring lap record, the Cayenne Turbo GT has a lot going for it. After all, let's not forget, it's a Porsche.