2012 Porsche Cayenne

This is new introduction Porsche Cayenne with turbo engine.Along with the range-topping Cayenne Turbo discussed herein, the SUV is also available as the V6-powered base Cayenne, the eight-cylinder Cayenne S and the gas-electric Cayenne S Hybrid.

The exterior of the new Cayenne Turbo follows in Porsche’s philosophy of evolutionary design, but the latest model does feature a much sleeker appearance than the outgoing Cayenne, thanks to more organic body lines.

With a redesigned interior, following Panamera cues, the new Cayenne sports a new and longer center console and a repositioned shift-knob. Overall, nearly everything has been freshened and tweaked, including placement of the center air vents, sportier gauges and a new steering wheel.

Thanks to the extra 1.6 inches in the wheelbase, interior dimensions have also grown. Rear-seats now enjoy 6.3 inches of fore-and-aft sliding, as well as an adjustable backrest.

Other interior features include Bluetooth, Bose surround sound and a Burmester high-end surround sound system.

The Cayenne range starts out in base Cayenne form, featuring a tame 300 horsepower 3.6-liter V6. One step up in the Cayenne S, packing the Panamera’s 400 horsepower 4.8-liter V8 engine. But for those seeking a blend of true performance and utility, the Cayenne Turbo sits atop the Cayenne hierarchy and it awaiting you with a 500 horsepower, 516 lb-ft of torque twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8.

The result? Sprinting from a dead stop to 60 miles per hour in a scant 4.4 seconds.

Although fuel economy has never been a strong suit for the Cayenne, Porsche has vastly improved fuel consumption across the range for the new generation. The Cayenne Turbo is 23 percent more fuel efficient than the model it replaces, and now achieves 15 mpg city, 22 highway.

Like all new Cayenne models, the Turbo also features Start/Stop technology, which shuts off the combustion engine while the vehicle is stopped.

From a handling standpoint, the latest Cayenne Turbo comes standard with the Porsche Active Suspension Management, or PASM, while the technology is only an option on other models.

PASM is an advanced suspension system that provides for infinite damper control for both the front and rear axles, and a choice of three settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport.

Also contributing to handling is a new active all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch. This new AWD system reduces weight, and it can also be paired (for the first time) with Porsche's Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus option.

The Interior

The Engine