Porsche Cayenne GTS Part 1: Design Review

The Porsche Cayenne GTS is the road-optimized version of the German sportscar builder's highly successful SUV. Highly successful from a sales perspective that is... From a design point of view, the Cayenne has polarized opinions like few other cars.

The original Cayenne was... how do I say this professionally... aesthetically challenged. Listen, I don't care how successful it was, nor that it's the best-selling current generation Porsche, etc. I'm not arguing the business case for the Cayenne here, we're talking about it's styling. It just wasn't good looking. Especially considering it came from Porsche, a company that rarely mis-steps in terms of design.

Thankfully, the 2008 Cayenne received what is probably the single most successful facelift in automotive history. As facelifts go, it was pretty extensive too, including headlights, front bumper, front fenders - which is expensive - and a new hood, as well as a new rear bumper and taillights.

And while it didn't completely transform the Cayenne from Ugly Betty to Scarlet Johanssen, it did make it much more attractive. Gone is the less-than-handsome front-end, with its big snout, surprised-eyes headlights and gaping intakes. And in its place is a much more Porsche-appropriate face with aggressive headlights and a cleaner, better-integrated and sculpted nose. But we still get the big intakes, the outer two being non-functional on the GTS.

For its on-road mission, the Cayenne GTS gets great-looking 21-in. wheels with high-performance rubber and blacked-out side window pillars, which work much better than the height-accentuating aluminum-faced pillars on other Cayennes. There are lower extensions on the air-dam at the front of the car that help to visually hunker the GTS down onto the road, as does the diffuser around the back. Also helping in this regard is a ride-height drop of 20mm versus the top of the line Cayenne Turbo.

Slightly less successful is the over-styled side-skirt which twists in an effort to tie together the two lower extremities of the GTS - it just isn't necessary as it doesn't quite fit that well with the rest of the surfacing. Lastly, the GTS gets red brake calipers and a unique rear roof spoiler that continues the theme set by the other GTS exclusive styling cues.

Truly an extreme makeover, the new Cayenne - especially in GTS form - has achieved a near miracle in terms of design facelifts, making the proverbial silk purse from a sow's ear. And while that may be overstating it by some measure, the point is that the Porsche Cayenne can now claim to be a success in sales, dynamically and aesthetically.

Watch the video
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience
Read Part 3: Performance

Porsche Cayenne GTS

Performance
- Acceleration: Not quite Cayenne Turbo, but still impressive by big SUV standards
- Handling: Truly physics defying
- Braking: Porsche's reputation for great braking performance is intact

Design
- Exterior: Possibly the single most successful facelift in automotive history
- Interior: Family lineage is evident without being repetitive

Utility
- Comfort: Great for four passengers - a bit cramped for five
- Space: Not quite as much as you expect given its perceived footprint

Safety
- Dynamics: More nimble than most cars!
- Technology: The best Porsche has to offer

Value
- Price: Difficult to make a value argument for an SUV that costs nearly $90k
- Mileage: Come on... 

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: If you must have an SUV, this one is hard to resist... but then there's the Turbo
- Fun to spank: Sliding around over two and a half tons isn't really fun, but it's nice to know you can

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / All-wheel drive
Engine: 4.8 liter, V8
Power (SAE): 405 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 369 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4930 lbs.
0-60 mph: 6.1 sec. 
1/4 mile: n/a
Top Speed: 157 mph
Mileage: 13 city / 18 highway
Base Price: $73,900
Competitors: BMW X6 5.0i, BMW X5 4.8, Range Rover Sport Supercharged