The New Cayenne GTS Brings Back the V8 (Now with Turbos)

There was a time when the Porsche Cayenne GTS sported a naturally-aspirated 4.8L V8, a displacement befitting of a large, sporty SUV.

Alas, that changed when–in the quest for efficiency–a 3.6L twin turbo V6 was dropped into the refreshed model.

Yes, it made more power (+20 hp). Yes, the torque bump courtesy of the turbochargers was notable (+63 lb-ft). But at the end of the day it just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Until now.

With the introduction of the latest generation Cayenne, a new lineup of powerplants have arrived. At the top of the heap is the twin turbo 4.0L V8 found in the Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S E-Hybrid.

And whereas the previous V8 GTS had to settle for ingesting air at atmosphere while the Turbo models were fed boost, the new 2021 Cayenne GTS and GTS Coupe will now enjoy positive pressure via the same 4.0L V8, albeit in a de-tuned form.

By the Numbers

With 453 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque on tap, the GTS’s return to V8 power propels it from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, topping out at 167 mph.

That’s a 0.6 second improvement over the outgoing model and 8 mph added to the its top speed thanks to the 4.0L matched with a Tiptronic eight-speed transmission.

In a departure from its line of SUVs, the GTS now features a sport exhaust system (standard) with center-mounted outlets reminiscent of the 991.2 Carrera.

Getting the Lowdown

The new GTS rides 20mm lower than the standard Cayennes and includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) as standard equipment.

The lowered ride height and suspension tech works with the standard 21-inch RS Spyder wheels for greater handling precision.

But that’s not all. An optional air suspension allows for an additional 10mm of lowering and rear-axle steering and Porsche Dynamic Chassic Control (PDCC) are also available boxes that can be checked.

When it comes to stopping power, the GTS can also be equipped with Porsche’s Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB).

Styling, Standard

With the GTS and GTS Coupe, Porsche’s Sport Design package comes standard.

Included are blacked-out accents, including the front air intakes, side window trim and tailpipes along with dark-tinted LED headlights and taillight bar.

On the inside, a sea of Alcantara washes over its passengers. From the headliner, center armrest, doors and the seat panels of the new eight-way sport seats with higher bolsters and embroidered headrests, it’s a constant reminder you’re not in a standard Cayenne.

The GTS and GTS Coupe round-out the new Cayenne’s lineup, giving driver’s the sportier, raucous version of Porsche’s flagship SUV.

When it comes to performance, the use of the 4.0L twin turbo V8 is exciting news. Power gains via ECU tuning are likely to be substantial, no doubt passing that of the Turbo’s factory figures.

A tuned Cayenne GTS could very well become the preferred choice for excitement and relative value when compared to the Cayenne Turbo. We can’t wait to find out.