Test drive Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Here is the all-new Porsche Cayenne. The Cayenne was the car that broke the mould for Porsche; its continued success has proved that there is a bright future beyond sports cars for the German car maker. Trouble is, the original Cayenne lacked the styling finesse and overall quality to see it win universal appeal.

Subtle changes to the styling, including a lower bonnet, added contouring along the body sides and a more heavily raked rear screen, make it much look less imposing and, dare I say, more sporting.

The positive impressions continue inside. The Panamera-influenced cabin is a world beyond the drab cabin of the old Cayenne, providing added class and higher levels of finish. New, heavily contoured seats also provide additional support and greater comfort up front, although vision, particularly to the rear three-quarter, is quite restricted.

With a 40mm stretch in the wheelbase over its predecessor, the new Cayenne is roomier and more versatile than before. A sliding rear seat allows you to alter rear leg room, and the rear seat backs now fold down in one easy action, either manually or via an optional electric system, to allow you extend the nominal 670 litres of boot space.

When it goes on sale, Porsche’s new SUV will be available with five different engines: a 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol, a 240bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, a 400bhp 4.8-litre V8 petrol, and the combination of a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol and electric drive with a total of 380bhp in the new Cayenne Hybrid.

The highlight, though, remains the Cayenne Turbo. Its twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 is carried over virtually unchanged from the final version of the outgoing model. With 500bhp and a sturdy 516lb ft of torque, it’s got more reserves than many celebrated supercars – and more pace than the old Cayenne Turbo, according to Porsche’s claims.

Part of the performance gain can be attributed to a new Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic gearbox that comes with the option of remote shift paddles rather than the wheel-mounted rocker switches of the old Cayenne. It provides faster, smoother shifts than the old six-speed auto.

At 2170kg, the new Cayenne Turbo tips the scales a good 185kg less than its predecessor. And its power-to-weight ratio has increased by almost 20bhp per tonne in the top-of-the-line Turbo. This gain, the new gearbox and reworked gearing help to lower the 0-100kph time to 4.7sec, and add 3.2kph to the top speed, at 276kph.

The really great thing about the Cayenne is its ability to be a sports car or a luxury cruiser. The standard air suspension that the Turbo comes fitted with is an improvement on the steel springs fitted to the rest of the range, both in terms of body control and isolating occupants from the road surface.

At low speeds it can be slightly lumpy, but at higher speeds on uneven rural roads or on typical motorway surfaces the Turbo is relaxing transport. Excellent cabin refinement and a comfortable interior also goes a long way to making the Cayenne a soothing long distance companion.

And yet, select ‘Sport’ on the torque converter 8-speed auto gearbox and air suspension (both don’t have to be selected together) and there are few four-door cars - saloon, hatch or SUV - that offer the handling precision of the Cayenne Turbo.

This isn’t to say that you aren’t always aware of the car’s significant weight shifting around, but the suspension very effectively restrains body movement and so it takes little effort to balance the Cayenne through high-speed corners despite its height and dimensions.

The hydraulically assisted steering is also a complete revelation compared to the light, slightly detached sensation the previous Cayenne offered. More than anything, it is the new all-wheel drive system, which sends 100 per cent of the power to the rear wheels unless the car senses any need for grip at the front end, that really transforms the Cayenne Turbo into a rewarding sports car. It’s a completely different experience to the previous Cayenne, and whatever your opinion on high-powered SUVs, it’s an exceptional way to travel.