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Steve Dlamini-Kabini

I’M FINALLY ready to tell my bosses how much I love my job. Yes, for the first time in my 13 years as a journalist I felt guilty for being paid for doing my job.

Can you imagine being offered the most expensive sports utility vehicle (SUV) in South Africa (and probably in the world) to evaluate for a period of seven days?

Yes, that’s the Cayenne – the Porsche Cayenne. The all-wheel-drive Cayenne has several models in the range priced from roughly R600 000 for the entry level Cayenne S V6 to about R1.4 million for its flagship Cayenne Turbo.

And now Porsche South Africa has introduced another model that slots in the middle, the Cayenne GTS, priced at just R895 000. That is the model the German carmaker offered me for a road test.

I drove the GTS in Joburg traffic and on a long road. Powered by a naturally aspirated 4.8 litre V8 engine producing 298kW of power and a peak torque of 500Nm, the GTS is one of the quickest SUVs around, dashing from 0 to 100km/h in a sizzling 6.1 seconds, with its top speed at 253km/h.

Though Porsche SA claims a fuel consumption of 13.9 litres/100km under normal driving conditions, I found it pretty difficult to drive the GTS without activating the Sports button. This resulted in consumption of roughly 19.9 litres/100km. But this isn’t anything to worry about if one can afford a vehicle priced at close to a million bucks.

The GTS is available in a choice of two transmissions – the six-speed manual and the six-speed tiptronic (automatic).

I sampled the tiptronic version with paddle shifts mounted on the steering and found it pleasurable and effortless to engage in traffic.

But first things first. Let’s talk about what the Cayenne GTS is about before I get carried away by its awesome performance and fascinating interior features.

On the outside, the GTS is clearly distinguishable from its other Cayenne models even though its front and rear end are similar to its eldest sibling, the Cayenne Turbo.

The 21-inch wheels that fill the arches give the GTS the most muscular look of all models in the series. The ride height of the GTS is 24mm lower than the Cayenne S due to its sporting and more dynamic suspension.

Both the driver and front passenger enjoy new sports seats which are adjustable electrically in no less than 12 directions in the Cayenne GTS, with the additional benefit of extra high side support elements.

The rear seats are a special development for this sports model, a particular highlight being the individual seat contour at the rear. Regardless of its unique sports seats in the front and rear, the GTS still offers five adults sufficient accommodation with ample leg, shoulder and headroom. There is also space for luggage for a family of five.

The GTS may look like an SUV but the deep baritone from its 8-cylinder engine suggests otherwise. Its stylish four tailpieces and the Sports button situated on the centre console next to the gear lever are not there for mere display – they serve a true purpose associated with performance.

The engine of the GTS has the refinements expected in a vehicle of this nature. But once the Sports button is activated, the masculine body of the GTS drops closer to the ground while its suspension stiffens for better road holding and handling, eliminating the potential body roll typical of an SUV.

During my evaluation of this model, I preferred the Sports mode except for when I was driving on bumpy roads. Once the Normal or Comfort mode is selected, the suspension softens, providing an incomparably comfortable ride.

The GTS did not only receive attention to its exterior and under its bonnet. Its interior is just as impressive. The quality materials used were carefully selected to suit this model.

The type of leather covering the seats, side panels and even the inside of the roof is of a high quality. The selection of these expensive materials justifies the Cayenne range retail price. I wasn’t the only one who seemed to have fallen in love with the GTS. Everywhere it was seen it attracted attention. And when parked, people would hang around it admiring the overall design with some leaning against the windows to catch a closer look at the drop-dead gorgeous interior.

The GTS isn’t just an urban pretty boy designed for smooth roads. It is a proper off-roader, hence its personalised registration: 4X4 GTS GP. Fitted with an air suspension that comes with six different levels of ride height, the GTS can go anywhere.

In the Normal mode its ground clearance is 195mm and as the speed climbs to 125km/h, the body lowers automatically by 9mm. And once the driver hits 210km/h, it drops further by 14mm below normal.

When loading luggage, the GTS can be dropped by 34mm lower than the Normal mode.

For those who prefer to go off-road, the GTS can be raised by 26mm above the normal level height limited to maximum speed of 80km/h. And for extreme off-road conditions it is able go up by 30mm above normal levels, but this mode is only limited to 30km/h.

Though the GTS comes well prepared in terms of off-road or 4x4 features, I wouldn’t take it off the road, especially when I have to spend anything over R500 000. As much as I have no doubts about the GTS’s off-road capabilities, I’d rather buy a Mahindra Scorpio as a second car for that purpose.

The GTS doesn’t come cheap. The only off-road I would consider is on the Sandton pavement. Can you imagine the R895 000 GTS off-road?

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