It’s sort of a conundrum: Family-minded folks need crossover SUVs and some of them also need great big amounts of horsepower. So, for the shopper after maximum levels of performance, space and flexibility, there’s the Sport-Ute.
From what was once a small, niche market segment, more automakers than ever are equipping family haulers with all-wheel drive (AWD), versatility galore, and a whole whack-load of power, handling and entertainment value.
Today, virtually every price-point is represented in this market segment. So, here’s a cross section of the products available if you’re after an SUV that can do double-duty as a sports car.
Model:Porsche Cayenne GTS
Starting Price: $95,000
Overview: Designed to be the most all-out athletic performer in the Cayenne lineup, the specially tuned GTS variant packs five seats, all-wheel drive, a big cargo space, and enough power to haul its big body up to 100 km/h in well under 6 seconds.
Engineers specified a naturally aspirated and silky-smooth 4.8L V8 engine for this one, developing 420 horsepower. A Tiptronic S gearbox offers eight gears and automatic or manual shifting. AutoStop technology is included for improved emissions and consumption figures.
Look for lowered suspension, enlarged wheels, massive ducting, and some radical available paint colors to help set this hot-rod Porsche family-ute apart from the competition.
Pros: The Cayenne is a great example of the resulted goodness when a brand famous for sports cars builds a sport ute. Comfort, performance, styling and safety are all world class, here.
Cons: The Cayenne’s looks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and neither is the price tag, which approaches the six-figure mark.
Noteworthy: Porsche Traction Management (PTM) is an active AWD system that divvies engine power between the axles with millisecond precision based on inputs from numerous sensors. The system can even shuffle power around in cornering situations to enhance agility, effectively using its power distribution to help “steer” the Cayenne.
From what was once a small, niche market segment, more automakers than ever are equipping family haulers with all-wheel drive (AWD), versatility galore, and a whole whack-load of power, handling and entertainment value.
Today, virtually every price-point is represented in this market segment. So, here’s a cross section of the products available if you’re after an SUV that can do double-duty as a sports car.
Model:Porsche Cayenne GTS
Starting Price: $95,000
Overview: Designed to be the most all-out athletic performer in the Cayenne lineup, the specially tuned GTS variant packs five seats, all-wheel drive, a big cargo space, and enough power to haul its big body up to 100 km/h in well under 6 seconds.
Engineers specified a naturally aspirated and silky-smooth 4.8L V8 engine for this one, developing 420 horsepower. A Tiptronic S gearbox offers eight gears and automatic or manual shifting. AutoStop technology is included for improved emissions and consumption figures.
Look for lowered suspension, enlarged wheels, massive ducting, and some radical available paint colors to help set this hot-rod Porsche family-ute apart from the competition.
Pros: The Cayenne is a great example of the resulted goodness when a brand famous for sports cars builds a sport ute. Comfort, performance, styling and safety are all world class, here.
Cons: The Cayenne’s looks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and neither is the price tag, which approaches the six-figure mark.
Noteworthy: Porsche Traction Management (PTM) is an active AWD system that divvies engine power between the axles with millisecond precision based on inputs from numerous sensors. The system can even shuffle power around in cornering situations to enhance agility, effectively using its power distribution to help “steer” the Cayenne.
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| Photo: Sébastien D'Amour |