Porsche’s GTS badge is conferred on some of its very best-driving cars, positioned in a room higher than the foundation types but underneath the real madness of the Turbo and Turbo S variants. It truly is usually assumed that any Porsche is great to drive, even its more substantial SUVs, but the GTS procedure usually takes it a step higher than. Returning for the 2021 model calendar year, the Cayenne GTS proves that its two-door types do not get to have all the fun.
Generally, you have to fork out for a sinister seem, but the Cayenne GTS — and all GTS types, for that issue — makes it standard. It truly is a great seem, way too, with tinted headlights and taillights, 21-inch black alloy wheels and the elimination of each smattering of chrome. My tester is a Cayenne GTS Coupe, which picks up even extra character by way of sleeker rear-finish bodywork and the more spoilers that come with it. This certain automobile also will come with the $ten,350 Light-weight Sport Package, which adds a further inch to the wheel size in addition to a carbon fiber roof and a sharper exhaust with centrally mounted tailpipes. It all seems the enterprise, but then once again, normal ol’ Cayennes seem very darn great, way too.
Although the Cashmere Beige Metallic paint ($three,a hundred and fifty) could possibly not be the most intense motif out there, my tester ramps up the character within by way of suitable houndstooth fabric inserts on the seats, which seem and truly feel great alongside the leather-clad interior panels. The GTS does not go way too really hard in the paint normally, including some delicate trim finishers on the dashboard and some suede all over but usually leaving the relaxation of the interior as-is. My tester adds a little bit extra activity by way of Race-Tex suede on the steering wheel (part of the lightweight package) and the center console’s seize handles ($one,380). Despite the Coupe’s abridged roof, the 2nd row still has sufficient room for me to stretch my six-foot body in possibly of the two rear seats — the middle’s been carved out with a storage cubby.
2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS is constantly ready for a great time
All that stuff is well and great, but the true critical bits on the Cayenne GTS are the types you cannot see. A V8 has triumphantly returned to its place underhood, which replaces the outdated GTS’ high-strung V6, and when its 453-horsepower, 457-pound-foot output does not sound remarkable towards the 541-hp, 567-lb-ft Turbo, I can promise you that the GTS makes the most of each solitary inch of its new four.-liter. Acceleration will come on promptly, but not brutally so — Porsche estimates a -to-sixty-mph sprint of four.five seconds, dropping to four.2 with start control. The Coupe accumulates velocity promptly, but not so promptly that it catches me by surprise, even even though most of my mind energy is invested enjoying the louder exhaust barking like a pack of pissed-off canines as the revs rise.
That is variety of the name of the match with the Cayenne GTS: Predictable, but sufficient performance. Acceleration only tells part of the story in spite of becoming on the more substantial facet, the Cayenne GTS is agile. In its perkier Sport and Sport In addition modes, the standard air suspension keeps issues sufficiently rigid, keeping the physique flat via tight corners. The steering, which has been tweaked to offer superior emotion, is tight and immediate, and the corner-carving on my tester is additional improved via all-wheel steering ($one,620) and active anti-roll bars ($three,590). The 8-velocity computerized transmission is comprehensively capable, rattling off shifts so specific I believed it was a dual-clutch, and it holds gears at correctly high revs when put into one of the sportier modes, although I prefer to use the shift paddles for a little bit extra control.
Generally, leaving the suspension in its softest Consolation setting when holding the powertrain in a sharper setting is my jam, but that is not the circumstance with the Cayenne GTS. Consolation manner is basically way way too soft for spirited driving, which is fantastic, due to the fact that suggests normal driving is rewarded with some remarkable comfort and ease. Merged with thicker glass ($one,one hundred thirty), the cabin is serene and absolutely free of jostling in each day use. Even even though the GTS is all about driving, Porsche plainly understands that owners do occasionally want to chill out.
Some of the prices stated could possibly sound appalling at initial glance, but that is par for the system at Porsche. Even even though the Cayenne GTS Coupe begins at $111,850 which includes $one,350 destination, a surprising amount of kit is not standard. Although I have an understanding of that Porsche would like each operator to definitely customise their upcoming automobile, I do not feel it truly is correct at this price tag stage to charge $940 for keyless accessibility, $420 (great) for automobile-dimming mirrors, $990 for 4-zone weather control or $one,060 for 4 heated seats. Even further including to the annoyance is the point that you can see the grayed-out buttons for absent possibilities on the center console. Even at this price tag stratum, you might be still finding bad-shamed. My tester’s out-the-door price tag is a staggering $162,760. Jesus.
The buttons about the shifter seem neat… until eventually you understand you can see the switches for the possibilities that are not installed.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
Blissfully, most of the Cayenne GTS’ tech is straight-up standard. Four USB-C ports offer juice for just about every passenger, but with the addition of wireless Apple CarPlay (standard) and machine charging ($690), the cord isn’t technically vital, even though it truly is discouraging that Android Vehicle is still not current. Smack dab in the center of the dashboard is a twelve.three-inch display screen working the Porsche Communication Management infotainment program. It truly is one of my favorites, with tons of configurability, particular person driver configurations, a Wi-Fi hotspot, embedded navigation, you name it. Two smaller screens flank the central tachometer in the gauge cluster, bringing issues like audio and map details entrance and center for the driver. This is additional improved in my tester by a $one,720 head-up exhibit that, when tiny, puts all the pertinent details even closer to the road.
When it will come to basic safety, it truly is time to fork out the piper as soon as once again. A encompass-perspective digicam program with remarkable resolution will established you back $one,200. A night-vision getup adds a further $2,420 to the bill, and blind-spot monitoring calls for $950. The suitable great stuff, even though, is concealed at the rear of Porsche’s InnoDrive suite, which combines adaptive cruise control, active steering guide and lane-holding guide to hold the car pacing traffic in its lane. This fingers-on program feels very solid, with incredibly minimal lateral movement and sleek braking when essential. I do not know why you wouldn’t want to drive this automobile by yourself, but hey, absolutely everyone requires a crack from time to time.
It should not come as a surprise that the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS is a hoot on the road, due to the fact each iteration that is come just before it has been equally enjoyable. No matter if you want it in “coupeover” variety or not, the GTS will reward you with a driving working experience to which other sporty SUVs need to aspire.
