But Why?
by Tom Stewart (04 Apr 06)

Until recently, Porsche's Cayenne range consisted of three models: a relatively affordable 3.2-litre V6 with an adequate 250bhp, a more powerful S model with a 340bhp 4.5-litre V8, and, for those for whom a lot just isn't quite enough, a turbocharged 4.5-litre V8. With an awesome 450bhp and a faintly ridiculous 165mph speed potential, the top-of-the-range Cayenne Turbo can show a clean (or muddy) pair of tailpipes to any other SUV, new Audi Q7 V8, BMW X5s, Merc MLs and the supercharged V8 Range Rover Sport all included.

With that in mind you might assume that when Porsche management decided to add a fourth variant to the Cayenne line-up it would perhaps be powered by a diesel. Although American buyers have yet to twig that diesels go further on a tankful and offer thumping, useable torque, we Europeans are slowly realising that the bigger the car, the more a diesel can offer. Also, considering that the Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg share platforms, and that Porsche now holds a substantial stake in VW, a Cayenne with a big VW TDI lump - maybe even a Porsche-massaged five-litre V10 TDI - might have been a logical and intriguing next step. But no.

Porsche is a maker of fine-handling sports cars and so rather than add weight to the front axle or risk sullying the marque's sporting image with a noisy oil-burner, the company has decided to put more distance between itself and potential rivals by launching the Cayenne Turbo S. Featuring increased turbo boost pressure (by up to 0.2 bar), upgraded intercoolers and tweaked engine management, the Turbo S puts out 71bhp more than the existing Turbo model.

With a full 521bhp and 531lb/ft of torque spread from 2750 to 3750rpm, the new Cayenne is, after the Carrera GT supercar, "the second most powerful road car ever built by Porsche". (So says the car's press kit, but that's ignoring the 544bhp 911 GT1 of the late 90s, though in truth that wasn't a series production road car.)

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