Cayenne GTS is designed to cement Porsche's leadership in the sports SUV segment
Comments (1)It seems that Porsche's engineers and marketers, when planning to expand the Cayenne family with the GTS (Grand Tourismo Sport) model, were guided by the principle of "maximum sport, no compromises."
At the Russian presentation, held near Stavropol at an abandoned military training ground, where, fortunately, decent asphalt surface survived, we were able to test almost the entire lineup of Porsche sports cars with the letter "S". This was a great move: if the GTS is positioned as a car with a pronounced sporting character, then comparing it with real sports cars is an ideal way to evaluate the innovations.
 |  |
In the sports SUV niche, there are not yet many truly strong players. Worthy competitors can be considered the BMW X5, Range Rover Sport, Infiniti FX, and partly the Mercedes ML. All of them have powerful engines, but not everyone can give the driver that very pleasure of ideal handling and a sense of full control. Cayennes even in the base version can do this. The new GTS — even more so.
 |  |  |
The main feature of the GTS is the chassis. For the first time for this model, a scheme previously used only on Porsche sports cars was applied: steel springs paired with adaptive PASM dampers. The body is lowered by 24 mm, which noticeably reduced the center of gravity and gave a tangible advantage in road behavior. The picture is completed by more negative camber angles of the front and rear wheels — this allows cornering at even higher speeds. On the winding track prepared by the organizers, I felt this to the fullest. You enter a long corner, press the gas, and wait for inertia to start pushing the car out of the arc. At the same time, the realization that you are driving an SUV does not leave: the seating position and height above the asphalt constantly remind of this. The lateral support of the seats goes into full operation, but the Cayenne GTS goes where you look, not where physics pushes, and almost does not roll. A real athlete!
Wide tires 295/35R21 and air suspension, which perfectly copes with lateral rolls and vibrations, play a huge role. Similar equipment is available from competitors, but not all of them drive like this — except perhaps the X5.
 |  |
Porsche would not be Porsche if it had not prepared a fresh engine for the new model. The basis was a V-shaped "eight" with direct injection from the S version, but the power was raised to 405 hp. The torque remained the same — 500 Nm. The increase was obtained by refining the intake tract and increasing the throttle valve.
 |  |
The cherished "Sport" button on the center console triggers that same magnificent exhaust roar that only real sports cars have. But the matter is not limited to sound: along with it, PASM switches to a stiff mode, and the optional air suspension and chassis control system also activate sport settings. The impressions from the slalom and track on the Carrera 4S, Boxster S, and Cayman S are still fresh — with their impeccable manners and instant response to the slightest movement of the steering wheel. But now I have the keys to the Cayenne GTS and 130 km of Stavropol roads.
 |  |
The route ran on asphalt of varying quality, and unfortunately, there were more bad sections. At first, excellent surface with phenomenal grip in corners and picturesque views pleased, but then the hustle and bustle in Stavropol traffic jams on broken streets began. To be fair: the GTS handles bumps worse than other Cayenne versions — it is somewhat stiff. But at the same time, it is noticeably softer than any Porsche sports coupe. If you formulate the essence of this car briefly, it turns out like this: Turbo looks, Carrera suspension, boosted engine from the S.
 |  |  |
For the Cayenne GTS, two signature colors are available — GTS Red and Nordic Gold Metallic. Red seemed to me somewhat bland, not for such a car. But the golden, almost orange, is just what you need! Combined with the aggressive appearance, it literally catches the eye. The interior — briefly: comfortable and luxurious. Although questions remain about the layout of additional buttons on the steering wheel: what is the point of them if you still have to take your hands off the rim?
 |  |  |
Among the shortcomings, I also note the sluggish response to kick-down at speeds above 80 km/h, even in sport mode. When you press the gas pedal to the floor, you expect more vigorous acceleration from such a car. The Cayenne GTS is about one and a half million rubles cheaper than the Turbo: basic equipment starts at 3,565,500 rubles. But who will be the buyer of this car? How necessary is it at all? Probably, the GTS will interest those who are looking for a worthy replacement for a sports car for the winter season. And there are quite a few of them, judging by everything — for example, all owners of Porsche sports cars and competitor cars. The niche for such a price range is quite noticeable. And although the Cayenne is the most popular Porsche model among women, the GTS is unlikely to win the sympathies of the fair sex: its excessive stiffness will not appeal to everyone. It seems that with the GTS, Porsche is testing the waters for a sports crossover-wagon like a charged Audi Allroad or BMW X6.
The quota on the Russian market is limited, so there is no doubt that all units will be sold out.
When I parked near the newly built Porsche dealership in Stavropol, my own interpretation of the GTS abbreviation spontaneously came to mind – "Gromkaya Troynaya Smes" (Loud Triple Mixture).
Andrey Derevyanchenko
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
