Extra Spicy Offering: The 2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

Introducing the Cayenne Diesel to North American this year, Porsche’s main sport utility crossover line-up has been bloated by five distinct powerplant choices. Including a 3-liter V-6, normally aspirated 4.8 liter V-8, gasoline-electric hybrid and the 500-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, the Porsche Cayenne produces an entire spice rack of automotive tastes. Kicking up the power on the vehicle’s strongest turbocharged engine, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S grants a new height of utility performance.

The 2013 return of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S model emerges for the first time in the revised sheetmetal carved in a 2011 model year redo. Bracing itself for the arrival of the Performance Package-armed Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG and the BMW X5 M, Porsche engineers are again asked to add a special dash to the Cayenne Turbo‘s aggression for 2013.

With the addition of the ‘S’ lettering, the twin turbocharger-driven 4.8 liter V-8 powerplant inside of the Porsche Cayenne receives an 50 extra horsepower and 37 pound-feet of added torque. Equating to 550 horsepower and 563 pound-feet, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S receives a performance tweak equal to the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG but a mere 5 horsepower less than the specs of the twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter V-8 found in the BMW X5 M crossover vehicle. However, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S delivers the soundest blows to its German competitors in straight-line performance. Thanks to the Porsche crossover’s substantially lower weight, the Cayenne Turbo S sports car attributes come alive with a 0 to 60 mile per hour acceleration time of 4.3 seconds (0.1 of a second better than the Cayenne Turbo and about 0.4 better than the BMW and Mercedes-Benz rivals). The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S also receives a bump in top speed that allows 175 miles per hour to be obtainable. 



 

Along with the improvements in raw horsepower, Porsche has enhanced the overall driving dynamics of the Cayenne Turbo S crossover vehicle with some equipment already available in the model line. Optional technology on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the Cayenne Turbo S receives Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus with an electronically controlled locking rear differential, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and Power Steering Plus as standard fare greatly affirming a rich, performance driveability nearly as capable as the brand’s 911 flagship. Where the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S has the edge on the 911 sports car is off-road capability (that is if a driver wants to risk messing-up the sport crossover’s specially designed 21-inch 911 Turbo II wheels). In a stylistic fashion, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S crossover body receives a body-colour matching rear spoiler and polished dual twin-tube sport tailpipes.




While an argument is made that a Porsche demonstrates its worth on the outside at speed, a racy interior of the Cayenne Turbo S is an exclusive treat that cannot be ignored. Two-tone colour scheme using either Black/Carrera Red or Black/Luxor Beige can be applied throughout the crossover vehicle’s cabin with leather seating and an Alcantara headliner allowing the Cayenne Turbo S to peak with premium taste. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S interior dashboard and door panels are accented by a standard carbon fiber package. In the driver’s seat, the Sport Chrono package included in every Porsche Cayenne Turbo S presents data for logging performance motoring such a lap timer.

The newest high-end Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will go on sale in the spring of 2013. Priced over $37,000 above the price of the Cayenne Turbo, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will sell for a hefty $146,000 ahead of destination charges and taxes.

　

Information and photo source: Porsche Cars North America