Saar: The new-gen Cayenne will start its Indian innings with the Turbo variant, bookings for which started in the month of May this year.

Porsche India has announced that it will launch the all-new Cayenne SUV on October 17, 2018. The company started entertaining the bookings for the Turbo variant of the Cayenne in May this year. That was nearly a month after we reported the prices of several upcoming Porsche models, including the Cayenne Turbo. Sorry Porsche! The new Cayenne unveiled in August last year. That means the company has taken over a year to bring the Cayenne to our shores.

The new Cayenne Turbo houses a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine that puts out 550PS of power and 770Nm of torque. The power plant comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which routes the power to all four wheels. Porsche claims that even though the unladen weight is just 25kg shy of 2.2 tonnes, the Cayenne Turbo can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 4.1 seconds (3.9 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package), reach 160kmph in 9.4 seconds and clock 286kmph at full stretch. With the air suspension at normal settings, the Cayenne Turbo boasts a healthy ground clearance of 190mm. In off-road ride height mode, the SUV’s ground clearance goes up by 55mm.

Compared to its predecessor, the new Cayenne is 65kg lighter on its feet, thanks to an extensive use of aluminium in its recipe. The Cayenne, for the first time, will also be offered with rear-axle steering. This, in essence, helps in reducing the turning radius at low speeds while increasing the stability factor at high speeds. The new model will also be offered with Porsche’s 4D Chassis Control system, three-chamber air suspension and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system.

In terms of features, the new Cayenne Turbo will get LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, auto-dimming exterior and interior rear-view mirrors, 18-way powered electric seats with memory function, front and rear heated seats and heated steering wheel. Other features include all leather upholstery, roof lining in Alcantara, Bose surround sound system, a multifunction steering wheel, two high-res displays flanking the analogue tachometer and a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Once launched the new Porsche Cayenne Turbo will take on the likes of the Lexus LX 570, Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 and the Range Rover Sport Autobiography. The company is also expected to bring the standard, Turbo S and E-Hybrid variants of the Cayenne to India.