They say if it ain't broke, then don't fix it - and that's often how it felt with GTS Porsches. Whether Cayman or Cayenne, Boxster or 911 Targa, the press release almost wrote itself: a little lower than standard, a little more Alcantara than standard, extra power if you're lucky and black accents to top it all off. Given the popularity of the cars, the GTS typically offering something more desirable than a regular Porsche without the cost of a Turbo or GT model, it's not a surprise the recipe isn't meddled with much.
However, things are a little different for this new Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe GTS. In fact, a lot like the 718 4.0 duo, the latest GTS range additions have larger engines (with more cylinders) than their predecessors. Which is an unexpected bit of good news. So out goes the old 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6, to be replaced by the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as found in the respective Turbos. For the GTS, it produces 460hp and 457lb ft, which is more than an original Cayenne Turbo had. Porsche claims 0-62 in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 173mph with the right options ticked and the appropriate space to do it; MPG and CO2 are rated at anywhere between 20 and 21.2 and 301-319g/km respectively, according to WLTP, depending on spec.
Elsewhere, the GTS overhaul is as we've come to expect since the model was first introduced to the Cayenne back in 2008. Ride height is lower by 20mm and includes Porsche Active Suspension Management, a sports exhaust is standard and so is Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus; "the driver engagement and dynamic spontaneity of a sports car" is promised as a result.
The ride height drop serves to emphasise the black (of course) 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, behind which sit chunky 390mm discs (358mm at the back). Buyers can also opt for Porsche's surface coated brakes or the ceramics for further improved stopping stamina; they're joined on the extras list by air suspension, active anti-roll and rear-wheel steer. Additional GTS identifiers include the dark tinted lights front and back, black logos, exhaust tips and intakes, plus Alcantara across nearly every surface inside. Like we said, why bother changing what's already working?
Expect to see plenty more, basically, as the Cayenne GTS has proved a popular addition to the range over the past decade or so; that seems only likely to continue with the coupe alongside. It's on sale from today, with prices starting at £85,930 for the Cayenne GTS and £88,750 for the coupe. That places the cars against rivals like the X5 M50i and X6 M50i, from £74,620 and £76,870 respectively, the Jaguar F-Pace SVR (£75,335) and the Range Rover Velar SVA (£86,685). Buyers can expect their cars later in the summer - something to look forward to in 2020, at least.
1 / 8
