Porsche didn’t name the 2012 Cayenne GTS after a chili pepper for nothing, it is after all a red hot ride, a sports car that doesn’t know it’s really an SUV. You can even have it painted pepper red. Many believe it’s one of the best handling luxury midsize SUVs out there.
The goal of the Cayenne GTS is to give the driver the most thrilling and powerful drive experience without sacrificing Porsche’s renowned reputation for strength and poise.
Specifications
| Vehicle Type: SUV | Est. Market Price: $82,050.00 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity: 26.4 gallons (100l) | MPG: 15 city / 21 hwy |
| Length: 190.8 in. (484.6 cm) | Wheelbase: 114.0 in. (289.5 cm) |
| Height: 67.1 in. (170.4 cm) | Width: 76.3 in. (193.8 cm) |
| Curb Weight: 4597 lbs (2085 kg) | Ground Clearance: NA |
| Luggage Capacity: 62.9 cu ft | Maximum Seating: 5 |
| Engine: 4.8L V8 DOHC Turbo | Compression Ratio: 12.5: 1 |
| Horsepower: 420 HP | Max RPM: 6500 rpm |
| Torque: 380 lb-ft | Transmission: 8-Speed Tiptronic S |
| 0-60 mph: 5.4 seconds | Top Speed: 162 mph (260 km/h) |
Engine
The 2012 Cayenne GTS has a 4.8 liter V8 engine that delivers 420 horsepower and 380 pound feet of torque. An eight speed Tiptronic S power transmission allows the Cayenne to jump to 62 miles per hour in about 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 162 miles per hour. It also gets about 15 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
Performance
Porsche has dropped the height of the Cayenne about 24 mm so that it hugs the road and zips along with more confidence.
Exterior
The Cayenne GTS’ exterior is a refinement of the Cayenne Turbo; though some drivers claim it looks a little too much like the Porsche 911. The wheel wells are wider with an alluring roof spoiler as well as an aggressive new width to the side skirts.
Interior
As can be expected of any Porsche, the inside is sumptuous and roomy, with seating for five. It also has a leather trim that comes standard. What comes standard is the eight position adjustment for the front seats to ensure maximum comfort. Some have complained that there was just too much high tech gadgetry and it took too long to learn how to operate it, especially if the driver was simply interested in hopping in the car and zooming off.
There is 62.9 cubic feet of cargo space when the back seats are folded down, but people were disappointed that there wasn’t enough storage room for smaller items. But nothing dampened their enthusiasm for the Cayenne GTS’s performance.
