2008 Beijing Auto Show: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Preview

Introduction

What's New – Porsche ups the ante by introducing the most powerful version of the Cayenne, the 2009 Turbo S. In addition to the standard air suspension, self-leveling and ride-height control, Active Suspension Management and Dynamic Chassis Control, the Turbo S will be offered with ceramic composite brakes.

Why It Matters – Porsche says the Turbo S is a response to "enormous demand." Okay, they did say most of it's coming from the lands of new riches in Eastern Europe and Asia, but this Speedy Utility Vehicle is coming to America in August. So those of you who want to make the guy next door with the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG sweat will have just the vehicle to drench him.

2009 Porsche Cayenne S Turbo Preview – 2008 Beijing Auto Show: More horsepower isn't new. In fact, the battle for under-hood supremacy continues unabated despite the prediction that new U.S. fuel economy standards will kill off high-performance vehicles. That might be true for mainstream models, but in the realm where vehicles are more than transportation appliances, power can be purchased. One corner of that realm is called Porsche, and the folks there don't discriminate against the SUV in the lineup just because it isn't a Le Mans winner. Case in point: The 2009 Cayenne Turbo S. More power than any of its predecessors with 550 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque. That's the kind of power usually found in exotic sports cars. It's 72 horsepower more than Porsche's RS Spyder prototype racing car.