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The Cayenne GTS is the hair-splitter’s latest achievement. It’s a Cayenne powered by the same 4.8-liter V-8 as seen in the ­Cayenne S but tuned for an additional 20 horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque to make 420/380. It wears a body similar in style to the Cayenne Turbo, meaning a domed hood, blacked-out trim, and body-color fender extensions and side skirts. And it’s loaded with standard performance gear that is optional on lesser Cayennes. What isn't there to like?
The Cayenne S diesel earns the “S” by way of a twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter diesel V-8 engine that pumps out a prodigious 382 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the non-S Cayenne diesel’s 3.0-liter V-6 spits out a relatively puny 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of twist. Interestingly, the S diesel gets Porsche’s engine stop-start system standard; here in the U.S., the fuel-saving feature isn’t available on the pedestrian Cayenne diesel.
The V6 diesel engine was the same unit found in the other Volkswagen group models. The 3.0-liter unit offered 240 hp. It was mated as standard with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Cayenne Diesel Turbo 3.0 176 kW for 2011 model year. In 2012, power increased to 180 kW. 2013 saw the launch of the Cayenne Diesel S Turbo 4.1 281 kW version. The Cayenne Diesel with its 240 bhp is hardly a top performer.
As the flagship of the Cayenne army, the Turbo S was well received by those who were looking for a faster SUV. And it wasn't only the speed, but also the cornering speed that the Turbo S was capable of. The engine was based on the 4.8-liter V8 unit installed in the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo, but with a higher compression ratio that led to 50 more hp. The standard transmission was an 8-speed Tiptronic S.
The second generation of the Porsche Cayenne was launched at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. It was a big improvement over its predecessor and featured an evolved design. For the engine, the Cayenne Turbo featured a 4.8-liter V8 unit which offered 500 hp. For the transmission, the 2010 Cayenne lost the low-range transfer case. The standard transmission was an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox. All-wheel drive was installed standard as well. Other new improvements led to a decrease in the overall weight by 180 kg (400 lbs).
The absolute highlight of this new generation is the world debut of the Cayenne S Hybrid with its technically highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive and fuel consumption in the New European Driving Cycle of just 8.2 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 34.4 mpg imp), which means CO2 emissions of just 193 g/km. The Cayenne S Hybrid therefore combines the performance of an eight-cylinder with the economy of a six-cylinder running on much less fuel.
Car and Driver said:' "More horsepower and less weight add up to a winning combo in the Cayenne S". We agree. Alongside the weight loss and the striking new exterior and interior design, Porsche got an extra 15 hp from the Cayenne S’s naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V-8. A new transmission with two more forward ratios (now an 8-speed) transforms the drive. Cayenne S hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and clear the quarter-mile in 14.1 at 101 mph.
The second-generation Cayenne moved the game on for SUVs. It has a nicer design, more powerful engines and much nicer interiors. The base V6 Cayenne was good for 299 hp @ 6,300 rpm and 295 ft lbs of torque. Acceleration was decently brisk with 0 - 60 mph over in 7.5 seconds and top speed of 143 mph. The car was slightly longer, wider, and higher than its predecessor. All new models shared the new headlight graphics with additional lights at the inside so unmistakably Porsche.