2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S revamped

Although a refreshed Porsche Cayenne lineup made its debut in Paris last fall, its top model was conspicuously absent from the gathering. The automaker resolved that omission in Detroit, where the wraps came off of the 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Now boasting even more firepower and adding Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes to its lengthy roster of standard equipment, this new flagship of the family sets even higher overall performance benchmarks. 

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Key change to the 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8 in the Cayenne Turbo S involved integrating the compressor units directly into the exhaust manifolds. This strategic relocation helped generate an extra 20 horsepower and 37 lb-ft of peak torque – bringing those critical stats to 570 and 590, respectively – while yielding even quicker throttle response. The engine remains backed by an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic and while the top speed of the Turbo S continues to be a heady 176 mph, the more meaningful 0-60 mph sprint time dips from 4.3 to 3.8 seconds. As for those new brakes, they’re huge, completely filling the void behind standard 21-inch 911 Turbo-style alloy wheels. Up front, 16.5-inch front rotors are squeezed by Porsche’s first-ever 10-piston calipers while the rear binders match 14.6-inch discs with beefy four-piston calipers. 

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As in the past, the Cayenne Turbo S also benefits from a host of handling enhancements including Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control active roll stabilization, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus that optimizes handling and stability by way of specific brake applications to the right or left rear wheel and the active all-wheel drive system Porsche Traction Management. In addition to subtle black exterior accents, Cayenne Turbo S also includes LED headlamps with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, full-leather interior trim with carbon look accents and a Bose premium infotainment package  with navigation. The 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S goes on sale here in late April. Pricing will start at $158,295.

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