Porsche Cayenne GTS Returns With A Hefty Power Hike

GTS models have long been not-so-quietly considered the sweet spot in any Porsche line-up. They offer the right balance of power and sharpness without going completely overboard, and that’s no different in Cayennes of old. Now, a year on from the latest generation’s launch, the GTS is making a return. With more oomph.

With a revised version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the last car (and pretty much every fast VW Group-related thing in production now), the new Cayenne GTS pushes out 493bhp and 487lb ft of torque – a 39bhp and 29lb ft increase. Dumped to all four wheels through a tweaked eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox, it’ll crack 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds  –  a tenth quicker – with top speed increased by 3mph to 171mph.

Porsche has also nabbed a bit of hardware from the full-fat Cayenne Turbo GT (which we don’t get in Europe) to help the GTS manage its newfound grunt. Riding on two-chamber air suspension, which also lowers the car by 10mm over the base Cayenne, the front axle pivot bearings taken from its big brother change the camber angle on the front wheels by negative 0.58 degrees. Enjoy explaining that one to your mates down the pub.

You’ll be able to spot a GTS amid the existing Cayenne range by its larger air intakes on the front bumper, extended side skirts, wheel arch extensions and dark bronze exhaust tips. The dead giveaway, provided whoever specced the car hasn’t opted to delete them, will be the GTS door stickers.

There’s nothing dramatically different inside the Cayenne GTS, aside from some branded stitching in the headrests, and one less option box to tick with a panoramic roof included as standard.

Then again, you can now spec one of three lightweight packages, which can reduce weight by as much as 25kg. Depending on your chosen pack, these include a lighter exhaust system, reduced insulation, a lightweight roof (meaning no panoramic, of course) and a carbon rear diffuser.

Porsche has opened up order books for the new Cayenne GTS, with pricing kicking off at £106,100, or £107,700 if you go for the Cayenne Coupe.