Just a few weeks since we were impressed by the 680hp Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid's ability to defy physics on the road, German Top Gear hand Tim Schrick has flung one around the part-gravel Gotland Ring to show that it can keep up the wizardry when the going gets rough. A large portion of the Gotland surface is bare earth because it's not finished yet, so Schrick's 3 min 51 sec lap has everything from wide, GP-circuit-like asphalt bends to dusty crests and rocky cambers that look like they're from a rally stage.
He's not hanging about either, as is evident from the understeer followed by a near miss with a large bush at, which has him shrieking and then laughing in relief. But aside from a few trouser ruining moments, the Cayenne defies its 2.5-tonne heft really rather well on both asphalt and gravel, flaunting all the anti-roll talents we noticed on our recent road test along with the same mid-corner throttle adjustability that makes it seem unusually well balanced for something so large.
Porsche has been quick to emphasise that this is a completely standard car, with no alterations to the 4.0-litre turbocharged engine or accompanying hybrid gubbins, nor has the air suspension been tweaked (although Schrick fiddles with its settings when the surface changes) and the wheels retain a set of road tyres. We'll assume the flat cap is driver supplied, and safety tested.