First look at the 2015 Cayenne GTS — the performance-oriented Cayenne with pricing from $96,000 and a new twin-turbo V6 putting out 440-horsepower. Everything about the GTS is performance-optimized, right down to that engine being a cool 300-pounds lighter than the turbo V8 in the Cayenne Turbo. A discount of more than $50,000 versus the Turbo is a nice side benefit, but the GTS runs Turbo-spec brakes and suspension.
A unique exterior is still the GTS Cayenne’s best-known attribute, along with a manual-transmission option for a few years there. This year, the custom styling of the GTS is even more pronounced versus the $59,00 base Cayenne V6 — with black surrounds and a total de-chroming. Tinted lighting front and rear helps add drama, while the fascias and other elements are a mix of Cayenne Turbo with a dash of Carrera 4 in the stance and black wheels.
Where the GTS varies versus the new Turbo shown below is in the standard headlights. These quad-LED accents to the bi-xenons are not the latest wider, blockier shape of the latest Cayenne and its LED DRL, LED low and LED high-beams. The LED lighting is a likely option for the GTS, however, which will complete the look of the standard twin amber lightbars shared with the Cayenne Turbo.
The latest GTS is all-automatic and thrumps to 60-mph in just 5.2-seconds before hitting a Vmax in the 165-mph ballpark.
2015 Porsche Cayenne GTS
RESONANT – IN MORE THAN JUST THE NAME
The new Cayenne and Cayenne GTS
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.
2015 Porsche Cayenne
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.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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