It’s an unwritten rule. No matter the production sector it competes in, Porsche owns the fastest production car lap record at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Starting with sports cars, one 6:38.835-minute lap from the outgoing (991.2) 911 GT2 RS chopped 4.78 seconds off of the short-lived Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series’ record, while there isn’t a four-door sport sedan that comes close to matching the Panamera Turbo’s 7:29.81-minute time around the legendary 20.8-km mountainside track.
What about electrics? The current battery-powered front-runner is Porsche’s own Taycan Turbo with a blistering lap time of 7:42.34 minutes. So far, the best Tesla can manage is 8:50 minutes from a top-line Model S, a shocking full minute and 7.66 seconds slower than Stuttgart’s super-fast four-door coupe.
As you might have guessed, the same goes for SUVs. Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio knocked 8.04 seconds off the previous-generation (958.2) Cayenne Turbo S’ time a few years ago, but the new Cayenne Turbo GT slammed the Italian SUV’s record into the dust by a staggering 12.775 seconds, resulting in a new SUV lap record of 7:38.925 minutes.
The 2022 Cayenne Turbo GT is not only the new SUV king of the hill, but it’s now king of the straight line too, at least amongst conventionally-powered utilities. Behind its blackened grille is a modified version of Porsche’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, featuring upgrades to the crankshaft drive, turbochargers, direct fuel injection system, induction system, and intercooler, plus revisions to the crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, timing chain drive and torsional vibration dampers from the regular Cayenne Turbo Coupe’s V8, resulting in 631 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque, which is 90 hp and 59 lb-ft more respectively.
The Cayenne Turbo GT also gets a quicker-responding eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, and a new water-cooled transfer case for the Porsche Traction Management all-wheel drive system, the latter capable of increasing the drivetrain’s thermal capacity under increased loads.
Central tailpipes are unique to the Cayenne Turbo GT too, these being part of a standard sports exhaust system mostly comprised of lightweight, heat-resistant titanium. Porsche’s engineers clipped further weight by removing the centre silencer, which no doubt helps provide a very pleasing exhaust note.
All of the above comes together to launch the Cayenne Turbo GT from standstill to 100 km/h in a mere 3.3 seconds, shaving 0.1 seconds from the mighty Lamborghini Urus’ sprint time, while its 300-km/h top track speed is in the same league as the upper-crust Lambo, as well as Audi’s RS Q8 and Maserati’s Levante Trofeo, which, however, are nowhere near as quick off the line. The Turbo GT can demolish the quarter mile in a mere 11.6 seconds too, incidentally.
Making sure all four wheels stay planted on the tarmac at speed is a deployable rear wing that’s 25 mm larger than the one fitted to the regular Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and made of carbon fibre no less. This upgraded spoiler provides up to 40 kg of extra downforce over the lesser SUV. It solely comes fastened to the sweptback Cayenne Coupe body, by the way, which includes an overall ride height that’s reduced by 17 mm when compared to the Turbo.
The rear wing isn’t the only component upgraded to carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The entire contoured roof is constructed from the ultra-rigid, lightweight composite, while unique CFRP side plates enhance the rooftop spoiler just behind, a CFRP rear diffuser looks purposefully sensational down below, and CFRP mirror caps dress up the side profile.
Some additional elements you won’t find on any other Cayenne include a revised front apron with a sharply protruding lip spoiler, and larger side cooling air intakes, while blackened wheel arch extensions circle a set of special 22-inch GT Design Neodyme wheels on Pirelli P Zero Corsa performance tires.
The larger rims and rubber connect through to a 15-percent stiffer three-chamber air suspension that not only gets special performance-oriented control software, but also utilizes a unique damper calibration of the Porsche Active Suspension Management, as well as reworked Power Steering Plus and rear-axle steering systems, while active Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control is part of the standard equipment list too.
Plenty of additional work was done on the suspension to make it perform better than any previous Cayenne, while its standard Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system will be up to racetrack levels of performance when it hits the road next year, providing less fade than the Cayenne’s regular brakes.
Inside, Cayenne Turbo GT owners will be first to experience the updated Porsche Communication Management (PCM 6.0) infotainment system, which boasts a new interface, faster operating logic, and in-depth integration of Apple Music and Apple Podcasts for the upgraded Apple CarPlay smartphone system. What’s more, Android Auto is now standard, meaning that most buyers will now benefit from full smartphone integration.
Other interior enhancements will be more immediately noticeable upon stepping inside, starting with the yellow leather stripe at 12 o’clock on the otherwise Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel rim, designed to help centre the wheel during high-speed action. An extended Alcantara package comes standard with the Cayenne Turbo GT, which includes the perforated centre inserts for the special eight-way powered front sport seats and similarly styled sport seats in back. Contrasting accents can be had in Neodyme or Arctic Grey, while “turbo GT” script gets added to the headrests. Porsche applies a matte black finish to highlighted trim as well, unless specified differently when ordering.
The 2022 Cayenne Turbo GT, which is now available to order through Porsche Centre Vancouver from $200,700 (plus destination), will start shipping in early 2022. Be sure to contact Porsche Centre Vancouver to reserve yours now, by calling (604) 736-7911 or dropping by our showroom at 688 Terminal Ave, Vancouver.
Story credits: Trevor Hofmann
Date: August 2021
Photo credits: Porsche
Videos of the new Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT.