The new Porsche Cayenne range to be launched in Australia later this month will be bolstered in February 2015 with the introduction of the entry model Cayenne V6 and overtly sporty Cayenne GTS models. This will bring to seven the number of new Cayenne models available in Australia during the first quarter of 2015.
The new Cayenne GTS announces its 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 stood at Porsche for especially sporty models.
At the same time, the new entry-level model Cayenne with the familiar 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine rounds off the Cayenne portfolio at the lower end of the range.
Cayenne GTS
Porsche drivers like their car to be sporty – regardless of whether it has two doors or four. The GTS version of the Cayenne has traditionally been well received in Australia, becoming the most popular petrol powered SUV in the range.
It is not only the name of the Cayenne GTS that is resonant. The 3.6-litre V6 bi-turbo engine is the performance-oriented enhancement of the new power unit 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 rises by 14 kW to 323 kW (20 hp to 440 hp) and torque by 85 Nm to 600 Nm, while fuel consumption goes down by up to 0.9 l/100 km.
The Cayenne GTS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, or just 5.1 sec-onds with the optional Sport Chrono package, which is 0.5 and 0.6 seconds less respectively than the previous model achieving a top speed of 262 km/h. As standard it has a sports exhaust system, which provides the familiarly meaty GTS sound.
Thanks not least to its suspension the Cayenne GTS captivates drivers with its unmistakable lateral dynamics.
The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) damping system has a sporty set-up. With the standard PASM and air suspension fitted to GTS models sold in Australia ride height is reduced by 20 millimetres. Further standard features include the brakes from the Cayenne Turbo with 390-millimetre discs on the front axle (358 millimetres at the back), inclusive of brake callipers painted red in typical turbo fashion.
Australian GTS models also receive metallic paint, electric slide / tilt glass sunroof and heated front seats as standard.
Other design attributes also turn the Cayenne GTS externally into a sporty vehicle. As standard it has the Turbo front bumper with large air intakes and the Sport Design package, including more contoured side sills and wheel arch extensions. The latter, like the roof spoiler and lower bumper, are painted in body colour. The colour black provides some striking contrasts: all lettering is black, as are the 20-inch wheels in the RS Spyder design, the exhaust tailpipes, the bi-xenon headlights’ inner apertures and the fittings of the darkened LED rear lights. A new feature on the front doors is striking GTS lettering.
The sporting character continues on the inside. Eight-way electrically adjustable GTS sports seats with driver memory package in leather/Alcantara upholstery, including GTS lettering on the headrests, are fitted as standard. Alcantara is the predominant 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 contrasting colour.
Cayenne V6 petrol
The engine used in the Cayenne, the new base model, is the familiar 3.6-litre V6 naturally aspirated engine, delivering 220 kW (300 hp). It accelerates the Cayenne from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds – 7.6 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package. That’s 0.2 seconds faster than before. At 230 km/h, top speed matches the level of the previous model.
Like all new Cayenne models it benefits from the general efficiency measures, such as coasting, Auto Stop/Start function and thermal management, as a result of which fuel consumption drops in comparison to the previous model by 0.7 L/100 km to 9.2 L/100 km. That equates to CO2 emissions of 215 g/km, thus 21 g/km lower than be-fore.
Compared to the previous model the new Cayenne also offers more comprehensive standard features. In addition to the new eight-speed Tiptronic S with Auto Stop/Start and coasting functions these also include, for instance, the bi-xenon main headlights with four-point LED daytime driving lights, the multi-function sports steering wheel with paddle switches and automatic boot lid; while Australian models also gain 19-inch Cayenne Turbo wheels and auto dimming interior and exterior mirrors as standard.
The Cayenne and Cayenne GTS are celebrating their world premiere on November 19 at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Sales of both models will start in Australia from late February 2015. The new Cayenne is priced from $108,000 and the new Cayenne GTS from $154,600 excluding statutory and dealer charges.
Model / Previous Price / MY15 Price
* Porsche Cayenne Diesel / $100,600 / $104,700
Porsche Cayenne / $100,200 / $108,000
Porsche Cayenne S / $138,500 / $139,900
Porsche Cayenne S Diesel / $141,800 / $143,200
Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid / $149,900 / $139,200 (S E-Hybrid)
Porsche Cayenne GTS / $150,400 / $154,600
Porsche Cayenne Turbo / $221,600 / $230,800
* Cayenne Diesel 2015 price benefits from LCT threshold for Fuel Efficient Cars – ie, Cayenne Diesel now < 7.0 L / 100kms Porsche Cayenne GTS: urban fuel consumption 13.2-12.9 l/100 km; extra-urban 8.3-8.1 l/100 km; combined 10.0-9.8 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 234-228 g/km; efficiency class: E-D Porsche Cayenne: urban fuel consumption 12.3 l/100 km; extra-urban 7.5 l/100 km; combined 9.2 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 215 g/km; efficiency class: D