New Porsche Cayenne GTS gets 414bhp 10 | 04 | 2012

PORSCHE WILL LIFT the wraps from its updated, and more powerful Cayenne GTS at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. It's set to enter Scottish dealerships in July, with prices starting at £67,000, £12k more than the Cayenne S (see more official photos of the updated Porsche Cayenne GTS).

Set to slot between the S and Turbo models, the new Cayenne GTS gets its power from an uprated version of the non-turbo V8 motor from the S.

That means power output from the non-turbo 4.8-litre V8 has increased from the 394bhp of the Cayenne S to 414bhp: that's an increase of 14bhp on the previous generation GTS.

It also comes, for the first time, with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with stop-start as standard. The previous model used a six-speed manual gearbox.

Not surprisingly, the new Cayenne GTS is also faster, albeit only marginally. It'll hit 62mph from standstill in 5.7sec, that's 0.2s faster than the current V8 S. There's also a 2mph increase in the top speed to 162mph.

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But it is more thirsty at the fuel pumps, with overall consumption dropping by 2.5mpg to 26.4mpg in the GTS compared with the V8 S.

Porsche has though, once again, cleverly updated the car's styling by incorporating the body-kitted looks of the range-topping Turbo model.

And perhaps the biggest appeal of the GTS is the fact it boasts an impressive lowered chassis — down by 24mm when compared to the Cayenne S — which comes with standard steel springs and PASM adjustable dampers.

Naturally, this delivers flatter cornering and an even higher level of sure-footedness. But if you want to improve the GTS even further, you can opt for the extra air suspension combined with Porsche’s PDCC anti-roll system.

Read our roadtest of the Porsche Cayman R

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Jim McGill