Crossover seems to be the exciting new frontier for every car manufacturer these days, and Porsche has actually managed to superbly blend utility, beauty and power for the enthusiast looking for a family vehicle in the 2013 Cayenne GTS. While this engineering marvel doesn’t come with a manual gearbox, its paddle shift with manual Tiptronic gate in sport mode and Sound Symposer will have you swearing you’re driving a sport coupe as you reach the finish line at the grocery store.
The Affordable Cayenne Sport
One of the things to love about the new 2013 Cayenne GTS is the fact that it comfortably occupies the middle range between the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo, both in terms of price range and ponies under the hood. The GTS is nearly a full $27,000 less than its turbocharged twin, yet delivers quite a charge at the starting block. The sporty wagon can sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds and reaches 100 mph in just 13.3 seconds. The Cayenne S is just a few split seconds slower on the time. This is mainly due to the fact that the GTS and S share the same aggressive 4.8-litre V-8 engine, but the GTS has a 20 horsepower boost over the S for a total of 420 hp. Torque is also more eager with the GTS rearing up at 380 lb-ft compared to 360 lb-ft on the S.
Sport Performance from an SUV?
The Cayenne GTS really distinguishes itself from the S version in its aggressive design and aerodynamics. The GTS chassis sits as low to the ground as EPA regulations will allow and is assisted by dual adjustable air suspension and damper systems. The GTS borrows all-wheel drive torque from the Cayenne Turbo for sport performance on turns and winding roads. As the GTS turns its wheels, torque can be delivered wherever its needed for superior gripping power. In addition, the GTS has a standard torque-vectoring system that adds additional tensioning to rear brakes when steering gets tough.
Exterior Styling
The GTS was designed to resemble its sibling, the Cayenne Turbo, and imitates its front and rear styling, down to the four exhaust pipes and LED lights. The GTS sports its own double winged roof spoiler that adds to the sleekness of this more affordable sporty family Porsche. For people tired of shoe-box style SUVs that lag on the highway, the Porsche Cayenne GTS is the perfect answer.
Porsche’s Prestige Interior
The feisty GTS avoids the six figure price tag of the Cayenne Turbo, yet still delivers a luxury interior with 8-way electronically adjusting leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, stainless steel gas and brake pedals, Bluetooth connectivity, electric sunblind for the rear windows, and Alcantara wrapped interior components.
Safety on Tap
Safety features on the Cayenne GTS abound. Of course, the Cayenne GTS comes with a heated windshield; daytime running lights; passenger, side and curtain airbags; and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is standard, and sensors watch the vehicle’s acceleration, steering and speed. Stability is maintained by electronic braking on each wheel, and the engine is also controlled to provide the correct amount of power for driving conditions.
Emergency braking conditions are also sensed by PSM. It can sense release of the throttle and automatically brings the brake pads closer to the discs. This minimizes braking distance in unexpected situations. For sudden stops, brake assist applies hydraulics to increase brake power on each wheel. PSM also works with adaptive cruise control to detect vehicles ahead. If the distance between the Porsche and another vehicle decreases, PSM automatically readies the brakes for quick application. For off the road or hazardous travel, wheels lock in order to offer better traction on snow or rough terrain.
The Final Word
With the Porsche Cayenne GTS, you get a dynamo that can perform like a roadster on the highway and take you where you need to be in the city with verve and style. The Sound Symposer, unique to the GTS, delivers the excitement of a growling cat under the hood, so executives, after a long day at work, can unwind on their way to pick up the youngster at daycare. As a wise man said, “It’s the little things that count.”
Ready to get behind the wheel? See our 2013 Porsche Cayenne Inventory here.