The Porsche Cayenne GTS getting ready to roll into Beijing later this month.
Automakers will get one more shot to trot out their latest and greatest products as the Beijing Motor Show prepares to get underway before the car show circuit takes its summer hiatus. And Porsche is preparing for China by giving us a sneak peek at the maker’s updated 2013 Cayenne GTS.
Don’t be surprised if it seems familiar. The GTS has a lot in common, at least visually, with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, including the front fascia and hood. But under that hood you’ll find a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V-8 that makes 420 horsepower, 20 more than the current Cayenne S model.
To further improve the fun factor, Porsche is lowering the GTS ride height by 20 mm – or nearly an inch – while also adopting a lower final drive ratio.
The Cayenne GTS isn’t an entire clone of the Turbo. Exterior modifications include blacked-out window frames and quad exhaust tips, as well as wider fenders, lower sills and a double-wing roof spoiler.
Inside, there’s a new faux suede trim offsetting the leather sport seats. And the GTS will be the first Cayenne to offer an optional Sport Chrono package that, among other things, makes it easy to clock lap times.
The new Cayenne GTS, which will be available worldwide later this year, follows the U.S. introduction of the Porsche Cayenne diesel at the NY Auto Show. The GTS designation has been used on a variety of different Porsche products, over the years, most recently with the Panamera, though it was also available on the first-generation Cayenne.
The new Porsche Cayenne GTS carries an $83,025 sticker – including the $975 delivery charge — a roughly $17,000 premium over the Cayenne S. That might seem steep, at a bit more than $1,000 per added horsepower were it not for a long list of additional standard features, including that sport exhaust system and the new Sound Symposer which, Porsche explains, “channels authentic engine intake sounds into the cabin.”
But what may be the biggest selling point is a 0 to 60 time of 5.4 seconds, with top speed rated at 162 mph.
For those who care about mileage, the 2013 Porsche Cayenne also offers Stop/Start, which briefly shuts the engine off when idling, then restarts automatically when the driver’s foot lifts off the brake. That’s normally expected to boost mileage by as much as 3 to 5%, though Porsche has not yet released fuel economy figures.