2018 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Puts Other Performance SUVs on Notice
The all-new 2018 Porsche Cayenne Turbo has made its official debut in Frankfurt, landing with a new 550 horsepower 4.0-liter V8 under the hood.
The new 4.0-liter V8’s two turbochargers are mounted inside the engine’s cylinder ‘V’, which due to the shortened exhaust paths helps to reduce turbo lag and increase engine responsiveness. Porsche says the new V8 makes 550 horsepower and 567 lb-ft of torque – 30 more horsepower and 14 extra lbs of twist than the outgoing Cayenne Turbo and its 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8. Paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, it will move this third-generation Cayenne from 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds and onto an impressive top speed of 177 mph.
The chassis is also ready for performance driving duties with a new version of Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) active dampers and three-chamber air suspension with six selectable ride height levels. Further helping the performance SUV along is Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, which can be combined with an optional rear-axle steering system for the “driving dynamics of a sports car,” Porsche says. Extra wide tires, measuring 285/40 up front and 315/35 out back, help stick all 550 horses to the road.
SEE ALSO: Updated 2019 Porsche Cayenne Revealed with 911-Inspired Styling
Porsche says the new Cayenne Turbo is the first SUV to have an adaptive roof spoiler. When retracted, the spoiler helps aid in vehicle efficiency and deploys to help slow the car when the brakes are applied heavily. Porsche says the air brake helps to slow the SUV two meters earlier from a speed of 250 km/h and compliments its new standard tungsten-carbide coated steel brakes. As always with Porsche, carbon ceramic brakes are available as an option.
Stylistically, the Cayenne Turbo is set apart from regular versions of the SUV by a model exclusive front and rear fascias, standard 21-inch Turbo wheels, widened wheel arches, twin-tailpipes and a body color rear apron and door trims. The interior features the large new high-res display first shown in the regular Cayenne, along with the Porsche Advanced Cockpit digital dash. A 710-watt Bose audio system is standard, with 18-way adjustable heated seats and a multi-function sports steering joining it on the list of standard features.
The 2018 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S has been priced from €138,850 in Europe including delivery. North American pricing has yet to be announced, but we may know more once it makes its North America debut – likely at the 2017 Los Angeles Motor Show in November.
Discuss this story on our Porsche forum.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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Hold on....the 3.9s for 0 - 62mph is with the sports chrono package. If you can't afford it or deem it unnecessary then you're dressed down to 4.1s. Still that's plenty fast! It looks like Porsche have done what Honda Accord and BMW 5 series decided ie stick with the same basic shape as the previous generation. So, we have an evolution and not revolution of ideas this time. Hopefully the driving dynamics have improved since they were only nip and tucking the previous generation. As for the inner console, it looks neater but are the touch sensitive haptic controls easy to use while driving? This is a question that can only be answered by taking this beauty for a spin!
Lots of VW styling cues. Chiseled IP & console, VW seats. Not liking it one bit.