Porsche Cayenne GTS: Added power and style
The Porsche Cayenne GTS has been waging a serious war against other well-established peers in the SUV segment.
Popular competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Jaguar F-Pace, and Range Rover Sport are all contending in the same category where the Porsche Cayenne GTS has held its ground since its debut in 2002.
It entered its third generation in 2017. As it approaches the end of its lifecycle in the forthcoming years, Porsche is implementing a mid-cycle update to maintain its relevance and freshness in the segment following the comprehensive update of the Cayenne range in 2023.
Like its predecessor, the Cayenne GTS is available in coupe and SUV guises. Powering the duo is the same 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, but now with 368kW and 660Nmâ”30kW and 40Nm more than the pre-facelift model.
Porsche says that the Cayenne GTS will sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds en route to a top speed of 275km/h while shuffling through a revised 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission.
Amongst other things, the Cayenne GTS uses the Turbo GT’s front axle pivot bearings for enhanced comfort, agility, and handling.
Outside, the Cayenne GTS features black ‘GTS’ lettering on the sides and back, bigger cooling air intakes, dark-tinted headlights and rear lights, and red brake callipers. As part of the standard Sport Design package, the GTS comes with body attachments such as side skirts, front inlays, side window trims, and wheel arch extensions, all in high-gloss treatment.
If you recall, some of these were body-coloured on previous GTS models. Other features include dark bronze sport exhaust system tailpipes, which were previously only available in black, as well as 21-inch RS Spyder-design wheels in anthracite grey.
Moving inside, you get a heated GT sports steering wheel as standard, high-quality carbon-friendly Race-Tex materials throughout the SUV, suede-like fabric covers on the roof lining, armrests, door panels, and centre panels of the 8-way-adjustable sports seats, as well as the new Porsche Driver Experience with a curved digital instrument cluster as standard.
Porsche has also further raised the side bolsters for more lateral support when negotiating corners. Furthermore, buyers have the option to choose between two alternative GTS-specific interior packages: Carmine Red or Slate Grey Neo.
As for the GTS coupe, it gets a standard fixed panoramic roof, an adaptive extending rear spoiler, and, if desired, a sports exhaust system with centrally positioned tailpipes in dark bronze as part of the three different lightweight sports packages.
The Cayenne GTS in both SUV and coupe versions is available to order in SA, with prices set at R2,475,000 for the former and R2,547,000 for the latter, respectively. Pricing includes a 5-year drive plan.
