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Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe semi-large SUV. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
I tested the turbo coupe model of the Cayenne, a great sport utility vehicle (SUV), Porsche’s growth engine, which is setting a new record in the Korean market.
Porsche is increasing its presence in the Korean market by almost doubling its sales. Porsche Korea, which sold 4,200 units in 2018 and last year, sold 4,373 units in the first half of this year alone, achieving the highest record in history.
At the heart of Porsche’s record-setting ride is the Cayenne. Of the 5,841 units that Porsche Korea sold through August this year, 2,668 units (45.6%) were Cayenne. Porsche has bolstered its allure by adding a design to the Cayenne, which can feel both the practical characteristics of an SUV and the explosive driving performance of this year’s sports car. It has launched a coupe-like Cayenne that has refined the existing hard-hitting rear design.
The Cayenne Turbo Coupe that I met in person was reminiscent of the 911, Porsche’s flagship sports car. The Cayenne Turbo Coupe is a coupe-style SUV added to the new third-generation Cayenne lineup launched in 2017. There isn’t a big difference in performance, but the roof edge is lowered by about 20mm, the windshield and A-pillar are more relaxed than before, and a completely different line was implemented from the previous model. The Sporty Design Package and 22-inch GT wheels also add to the sophistication.
Cayenne Turbo Coupe with a stylish rear view. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
The Cayenne Turbo Coupe is a semi-large SUV with a length, width and height of 4930, 1985 and 1675 mm. The interior space is also spacious. The wheelbase, which is the standard for measuring interior space, is 2895mm. In addition to the ample legroom, the rear seat height is 30mm lower than the regular Cayenne, and the headroom has also been increased. The trunk is equipped with 625L, which is suitable for a large SUV. When the rear seats are folded, it increases to 1540L.
It has ample space, but it is not suitable for the latest car accommodation trend. Fully flat vehicles fold completely so that the rear seats are flush with the floor, but the Cayenne Turbo Coupe does not fold more than a certain angle due to the structure of the seats, such as thick cushions. There was not enough room for people to lie down because space in the back seat was not secured.
When you sit in the driver’s seat, you can see the perfectly neat interior. As many functions go into the touch screen, the physical buttons have been reduced considerably. The layout of the five circular instrument clusters was retained, but only the RPM (engine speed) gauge in the middle was replaced by analog and digital left and right. Thanks to this, the navigation directions can be viewed on the digital dashboard as well as on the large 12.3-inch main screen.
The cabin of the Cayenne Turbo Coupe. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
The driving performance was Porsche. The Cayenne Coupe Turbo weighs around 2.1 tons. Large, heavy SUVs are often less responsive, but the Cayenne Turbo Coupé with a maximum power of 550 hp and a maximum torque of 78.6 kg m with a V8 biturbo engine ran fast and reacted with agility. When switching to sport mode, the pleasant eight-cylinder single exhaust sound was heard and the body height was lowered to allow for a more dynamic ride.
It’s instantaneous, but it also puts out a performance the 911 won’t envy. By pressing the response button on the Cayenne Coupe’s steering wheel, the engine and transmission are pushed to the limit for 20 seconds. Compared to the 911, the exhaust sound, which was somewhat quieter, spins like an angry bull at the time. The Cayenne Turbo Coupé’s zero recoil (the time to reach 100 km / h from a standstill) is 3.9 seconds, which is the level of a sports car, and the top speed is 286 km / h.
The Cayenne Turbo Coupe also features a variable rear wing. Normally it has a tapered rear without spoilers, but when the speed exceeds 90 km / h, the hidden spoiler at the rear expands to 135 mm, increasing the vehicle’s traction and maximizing aerodynamics. In the driver’s room mirror, you can’t see the spoiler coming off the Cayenne Turbo Coupe in gear, but it’s a highly enviable scene for the driver who follows.
Agile rear view of the Cayenne Turbo Coupé, wide rear seats, air conditioning and 625 liters of trunk space. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
Due to the test drive of the Cayenne Turbo Coupe during the longer rainy season, there were many instances of sudden heavy rain while driving or water spills from nearby vehicles running at high speed. It was a very dangerous situation, where the view disappeared momentarily, but the Cayenne Turbo Coupe has excellent traction and runs stably without shaking. However, it was unfortunate that the operating speed of the windshield wiper was a bit slow to withstand heavy rain.
The Cayenne Turbo Coupé combines exceptional performance and great practicality that can be used as a family car on the border between a sports car and an SUV. The perfection of the design is also highly valued in the market. Of the 2,668 Cayennes sold through August of this year, 1,204 coupe-type models were nearly half.
However, taking all the performance, practicality and design, and the already high price, is an onerous part. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe was priced at KRW 180.6 million. The price of a test drive with options was 28.5 million won. A typical Cayenne coupe with slightly lower power output costs 116.3 million won.
Sesung Oh, Hankyung.com Reporter [email protected]
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