Porsche has lifted the veil on the 640hp Cayenne Turbo GT, which promises new levels of performance, dynamic ability and driver engagement. The new model is based on the Cayenne Coupé Turbo and is Porsche’s most powerful ICE-only SUV yet.
Cayenne Turbo GT holds the lap record for production-based SUVs around the Nürburgring
Powered by a 640hp, 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged, V8 petrol engine
Gets tweaked chassis and suspension, along with carbon-ceramic brakes
The Cayenne Turbo GT brings a raft of developments that have already shown their worth at the Nürburgring, where the car recently established a new lap record for production-based SUVs with a time of 7min 38.9sec. That’s more than three seconds quicker than what the Audi RS Q8 managed in 2019.
2021 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: exterior
Conceived to combine the outright performance capability of the Turbo and GTS Cayenne models, the new range-topper is visually differentiated from its siblings by a series of styling changes, all of which are described as functional measures for more efficient engine and brake cooling, as well as added stability and downforce.
These changes include a new lip spoiler with enlarged cooling ducts at the base of the redesigned front bumper; a modified roof spoiler with new carbon-fibre wing elements; and a 25mm-wider rear spoiler that is said to provide the Turbo GT with an added 40kg of downforce at its electronically limited 300kph top speed when fully deployed from the tailgate. Additionally, the door mirror caps and lower part of the rear diffuser are made from carbon-fibre, while the twin tailpipes exit centrally to enhance airflow underneath the car.
The Cayenne Turbo GT also receives 22-inch wheels, which are 10.5-inch wide at the front and 11.5-inch wide at the rear and finished in either gold or black. They’re shod as standard with 285/35-profile front and 315/30 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa performance tyres that Porsche claims were designed specifically for the new model.
2021 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: interior
Inside, there is a new sports steering wheel that houses a Sports Response button, as seen on all of Porsche’s hottest models, as well as electronically adjustable sports seats up front and two individual seats in the rear. Interior stitching and seatbelts are available in gold or grey, while new Alcantara accents hint at the new variant’s performance aspirations.
The Turbo GT is the first Cayenne to receive Porsche’s new PCM 6.0 communication system, which brings enhanced functions for the infotainment, including compatibility for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
2021 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: powertrain
Power for the Turbo GT comes from a reworked version of Porsche’s 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged, V8 petrol engine. It gains an added 90hp and 80Nm over the standard Cayenne Turbo, developing 640hp and 850Nm of torque. That puts it second only to the 680hp Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid in the line-up, in terms of output.
The changes made to the engine include the adoption of a modified crankshaft, additional turbocharger boost pressure and subtle tweaks to the fuel injection, induction and intercooler.
For comparison, the same engine delivers 600hp and 800Nm in the RS Q8, and 650hp and the same 850Nm in the Lamborghini Urus. The increased reserves are sent through a reworked 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox, which features new software that’s claimed to shorten response times, and a water-cooled transfer case.
Porsche claims a 0-100kph time of 3.3sec for the Turbo GT when fitted with the optional Sport Chrono package, a reduction of 0.6sec over the Cayenne Coupé Turbo and 0.3sec quicker than the Urus.
2021 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: chassis, brakes and suspension
The beefed-up mechanicals are joined by a reworked chassis with a 17mm reduction in ride height, 0.45 degree of extra negative camber on the front axle and carbon-ceramic brake discs at each end – 440mm in diameter at the front and 410mm at the back.
Additionally, the spring rates for the three-chamber air suspension have been firmed up by 15 percent, the active roll stabilisation system has been retuned to offer flatter cornering behaviour, and the rear axle steering has been tweaked with specific mapping as part of a Power Steering Plus upgrade package.
2021 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: India outlook
There is no official news yet regarding the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT’s India launch. However, it’s likely that Porsche will offer this in our market, as its main competitors, the Audi RS Q8 and Lamborghini Urus, are on offer in India.
Presently, Porsche sells the Cayenne in India in both, standard and SUV-coupe body styles, with the range consisting of the standard, hybrid and high-performance Turbo variants of the two models.
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