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2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S – Under the Hood
The Turbo S uses the same twin-turbocharged, 4.8-liter, all-aluminum V-8 engine with direct injection found in the Turbo, tuned to add 50 horsepower and 37 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is water-cooled and front mounted, unlike the marque's rear- or mid-engine sports cars. A six-speed Tiptronic S gearbox feeds power to all four wheels with a front/rear split of 38/62 percent. For the 0-60 mph trip, the Turbo S gets there in 4.8 seconds, shaving a tenth off the Turbo model's time. Not bad for a vehicle weighing more than 5,000 pounds. Top speed is 174 mph, three more than the Turbo.
Despite the 10 percent boost in horsepower, Porsche says the Turbo S achieves the same mileage as the Turbo model, measured with European Operating Cycle. Stateside, the 2008 Turbo is EPA rated at 12 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway. Estimates for the Turbo S haven't been released yet.
The Turbo S uses double-wishbone independent front suspension and a multilink setup in back. The air-suspension system is self-leveling and includes ride-height control and active management coupled with Dynamic Chassis Control. Rack-and-pinion variable power steering is speed sensitive and tied in with the chassis control system. Standard brakes on the Turbo S are four-wheel ventilated discs, nearly 15 inches in diameter in front and just over 14 inches in back. The system uses aluminum calipers with a six-piston model in front and four-piston setup in back. The optional ceramic composite discs are 16.4 inches up front and 14.56 inches in back, with the same caliper setup as the standard brakes. The advantage to composite brakes is more uniform performance across a wide range of temperatures and when braking from high speeds. The 21-by-10 inch wheels are shod with 295/35 R21 tires.
Porsche uses several different steel alloys in the Cayenne. The safety cage is made of high-strength material, while the crumple zones are formed with an alloy that more easily deforms to absorb the energy produced in a collision.
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