LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
Turbocharging, once reserved for only the most special of Porsche 911 models, continues to make its way further into Porsche’s line-up with the introduction of the 2015 Cayenne GTS. Coincidentally—or perhaps not so much so—the “GTS” nomenclature itself continues to grow at Porsche; the Cayenne marks the fourth model after the Cayman, Boxster and 911 to wear the badge.
(Los Angeles, CA) Gone is the naturally-aspirated V8, replaced by a twin-turbo V6 good for 440 hp (up 20 on last year’s model) and 443 lb.-ft. of torque (a gain of 37 lb.-ft.). The loss of two cylinders, meanwhile, helps scrub 730 kg off the GTS’ curb weight. That means it should handle even better than the outgoing model, which was an able handler in its own right.
Adding to the Cayenne’s “I know it shouldn’t handle like this, but it does” chops are larger brake rotors shared with the Cayenne Turbo (whose model name seems less special now, what with all this turbocharging going on at Porsche) and specially-tuned active PASM suspension.
To help differentiate the GTS from the rest of the ever-expanding Cayenne line-up, special black wheels, red brake calipers, body coloured sill, spoiler and wheel arch extensions, and matte black tailpipes come as standard. Elements of the front fascia are also shared with the Cayenne Turbo.
Inside, the red theme continues on the seat stitching and tachometer, where it’s joined by carbon fibre. Lots of carbon fibre. It’s on the steering wheel. It surrounds the shift lever (all Cayenne GTS come with a seven-speed auto). It’s on the driver and passenger hand holds and it’s on the door pulls. Of course, this being 2015, you’re no performance car if you don’t have lots of carbon fibre, but they really layed it on thick, here, to the point where it seems like an aftermarket conversion.
No matter; once you delve into the depths of performance the GTS is sure to offer, the door pulls could be finished in splintering wood and few would complain.
The 2015 Cayenne GTS will start at $108,200 when it goes on sale in Canada early next year.
