Porsche Cayenne GTS, base models revealed ahead of LA

Wed, 05 Nov 2014

Porsche unveiled a slew of refreshed Cayennes just a few months ago, but the base model (right) and high-performance GTS trim (above) were conspicuously absent from that list. There's no more reason to wonder about them, though, because the German brand plans to unveil both at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19.

Sitting below the Turbo in the lineup, the latest GTS still offers plenty of performance. It drops the previous version's naturally aspirated V8 in favor of a tuned version of the twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 from the Cayenne S for some added oomph. The tweaks bring power up to 440 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, which is enough to rocket the model to 62 miles per hour in an estimated 5.2 seconds. The bump also equates to 20 hp and 39 lb-ft more than the current S and more importantly 20 hp and 62 lb-ft more than the previous GTS, according to Porsche.

In addition to the extra muscle, Porsche also decks the GTS out with some added features. It comes with a standard sport exhaust and Porsche Active Suspension Management system with an air suspension lets the chassis sit about three-quarters of an inch lower (20 millimeters). To bring things to a halt, the high-performance models also takes its brakes from the Turbo model.

To show off the extra performance capability, the GTS has upgrades including larger air intakes in its front fascia, and the Sport Design adds "contoured rocker panels and wheel arch extensions," according to Porsche. Inside, customers get eight-way power sport seats in a mix of leather and Alcantara with GTS lettering on the headrests.

The base Cayenne has a few improvements of its own for the mid-cycle refresh. It uses the same 300-hp 3.6-liter V6 but has a new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission and standard stop/start. That means 62 mph arrive in 7.7 seconds, which Porsche claims is 0.2-seconds quicker than the previous version. Unfortunately, it also means that the manual transmission will no longer be available. Beyond the 2015's boosted performance, Bi-Xenon headlights with LED running lights and a multi-function sport steering wheel with paddle shifters are now standard.

US sales of both new Cayenne models will begin in February. The base model will be priced at $58,300 and the GTS will be $95,500, with both models subject to a $995 destination charge. Read the full details about both sporty utes in Porsche's announcement below.

Resonant – in more than just the name.

Atlanta. The new Cayenne GTS resounds an outstanding sporting character in its very name. The resonant letters GTS go back to the famous 904 Carrera GTS of 1963. In 2007, the Cayenne GTS became the first Porsche of the modern era to revive the acronym. Since then, GTS has designated particularly sporty Porsche models. At the same time, the standard model with the familiar 3.6 liter V6 engine rounds off the Cayenne portfolio.

Porsche drivers value thoroughbred sportiness in a car – regardless of whether it has two doors or four. Accounting for 11 percent of the sales, the GTS version of the Cayenne makes up a high proportion of the model mix of Porsche's most successful range. This high-performance SUV has greatly contributed to the company's profitable growth, and at the same time, ensures future investment in the broad spectrum of highly dynamic models offered across the entire portfolio.

The new Cayenne GTS is powered by a 3.6 liter V6 twin-turbo engine, which is a performance-oriented enhancement of the new powertrain recently presented in the Cayenne S. Its consumption is lower and it delivers improved performance: compared to the previous model with a V8 naturally aspirated engine, power output is increased by 20 hp to 440 hp and torque by 62 ft.-lbs. to 445 ft.-lbs., while fuel consumption is reduced. The Cayenne GTS accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds. A sport exhaust system is standard, which provides the characteristically GTS sound. Thanks to its performance-oriented suspension, the Cayenne GTS captivates drivers with its unmistakable driving dynamics and handling.

The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) damping system has a particularly sporty calibration. With the standard PASM and air suspension, the Cayenne GTS sits 20 millimeters lower. Further standard features include the brakes from the Cayenne Turbo with 390 millimeter rotors on the front axle (358 millimeters at the back), along with brake calipers painted red in typical Turbo fashion.

Other external design attributes also underline the Cayenne GTS' performance-focused nature. As standard it has the turbo nose fascia with large air intakes and the Sport Design package, including more contoured rocker panels and wheel arch extensions. The latter, like the roof spoiler and lower rear of the vehicle, are painted in body color. The black features provide some striking contrasts: all lettering is black, as are the 20-inch RS Spyder wheels, the exhaust tailpipes, the Bi-Xenon™ headlights' inner apertures and the fittings of the tinted LED rear lights. There's a new feature on the front doors: striking GTS lettering.

The sporting character continues on the inside. Eight-way electrically adjustable GTS sports seats clad in leather/Alcantara® upholstery, including GTS lettering on the headrests, are fitted as standard. Alcantara® is the predominant upholstery material used inside the car. The interior GTS package is optionally available in Carmine Red or Rhodium Silver with rev counter face, decorative stitching, headrest lettering and safety belts in a contrasting color.

The engine used in the Cayenne, the new standard model, is the familiar 3.6 liter V6 naturally aspirated engine, delivering 300 hp. It accelerates the Cayenne from 0 to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds – 7.6 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package. That's 0.2 seconds faster than before. Like all new Cayenne models, it benefits from the general efficiency measures which reduce fuel consumption, such as Auto Start/Stop function and thermal management.

Compared to the previous model the new Cayenne offers a more comprehensive array of standard features. In addition to the new eight-speed Tiptronic S with Auto Start/Stop, these also include, for instance, the Bi-Xenon™ headlights with four-point LED daytime driving lights, and the multi-function sport steering wheel with paddle shifters.

The Cayenne and Cayenne GTS are celebrating their world premiere on November 19th at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Sales of both models will start in the United States at the end of February 2015. The MSRP for the Cayenne is $58,300 and for the Cayenne GTS is $95,500. MSRP does not include a destination charge of $995.

By Chris Bruce