Adib Noor
“There is no denying that this is a sports car” – this was the first thing that came to my mind as I sat behind the wheel of the all-new Porsche Cayenne S.
The Cayenne S is the answer to the family man or woman who has that thirst for speed on the road, while also providing the answer to switch from a family car for the hustle and bustle of the weekdays, providing leisure for everyday living to one’s instant weekend escape, taking the lead on your favourite roads as you rev up and enjoy the car’s sporty driving pleasure.
First and foremost, the Cayenne S is a Porsche. That is definitely undeniable as it boasts both a striking appearance and impressive performance. While bigger than the Porsche classics that the carmaker is known for, every Porsche is first and foremost a sports car. The Cayenne S features the Iconic line of Porsche’s Coupé. It is based heavily on the iconic 911, and this third edition of the SUV has been further enhanced. The Cayenne S features a sporty and precise clear design, with enlarged air intakes which can be seen at its front are clear indicators of the increased performance. Its new horizontal light edges appear to be wider and more sporty even when parked. The roof height has also been reduced making it more streamlined. It also features redesigned rear lights with three dimensional light design and end-to-end narrow strip of LEDs.
Other notable features include mixed tyres and real axle steering, standard active all-wheel drive, Porsche 4D Chassis Control, Three-Chamber air suspension and Porsche’s Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) electronic roll stabilisation system.
Inside the Cayenne S is Porsche’s Advanced Cockpit, which adds to to the vehicle’s sporty and luxurious atmosphere. At the heart of the new display and control concept from Porsche is the 12.3-inch full HD Touch screen from the latest generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM,) similar to the new Panamera.
From the cockpit, drivers can intuitively operate a range of digital functions, which includes voice control. Meanwhile, the analogue controls on the new centre console are focussed on the main functions of the vehicle, while other buttons are harmoniously integrated into the smartphone-like, glass-look touch surface, giving acoustic and haptic feedback when operated.
In a typical Porsche style, the driver has a central analogue tachometer to view. Housed in two seven-inch full-HD displays are all other relevant driving data plus additional information selected using the multi-function steering wheel.
Night Vision Assist with a thermal imaging camera is one of the most important assistance systems, along with Lane Change Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Park Assist including Surround View and Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control.
What makes the Cayenne S truly amazing is what you’ll find under the hood. The Sports SUV features a 2.9 litre V6 engine with twin turbo charging. This engine delivers 440 Hp and can accelerate from 0 to 100 Km/h in just only 5.2 seconds and has a maximum speed of 265Km/h.
The Cayenne S is the embodiment of sportiness and comfort due to the new eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox. The impressive gearbox allows the vehicle to have shorter response time and sportier rations in the lower gears.
This results in an obvious enhancement on-road performance and off road capability.
At the other end of the expanded spread between comfort and sportiness, the long transmission eighth gear ensures low torques, optimised fuel consumption and relaxed driving experience.
The Cayenne S simply provides a straight forward driving experience, and the driver can easily select the many driving modes with a turn of a button. This is a credit to Porsche’s active all-wheel drive system, which is featured in all Cayenne models. The intelligent, fully variable Porsche Traction management (PTM) distributes the driving force between the drive axles, and its hang one concept is a key principle of the Cayenne.
There is no question that the Porsche Cayenne S will definitely be on top of the list for those looking for a high performance SUV.
