Porsche set to unleash rapid Cayenne GTS

It's not as though Porsche's V8-powered Cayenne S was a slug in the first place, but the Stuttgart mob will use this week's Frankfurt motor show to reveal an even faster, more hardcore version of its SUV -- and it's appropriately badged GTS.

Riding 24mm lower than its standard sibling, the GTS is the first Cayenne to feature Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with steel springs. For those who came in late, PASM is Porsche-speak for its electronically controlled damping system.

Porsche's boffins have also pumped up the volume in the engine room, as the 4.8-litre V8 has been tweaked to belt out 298kW at 6500rpm -- 15kW more than in the Cayenne S. Maximum torque remains unchanged at 500Nm at 3500rpm.

Given that the GTS is pitched as the sportiest of Porsche SUVs, it comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox (the Tiptronic S auto is also offered) and a shorter axle drive ratio than the Cayenne S (4.1:1 as opposed to 3.55:1).

These mods (plus the engine upgrade) enable the GTS to bolt from 0-100km/h in just 6.1sec -- half a second quicker than the Cayenne S.

As well as optional air suspension, the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active anti-roll system is available to enhance handling and ride comfort. Newly developed 12-way sports seats and leather-Alcantara trim emphasise the sporty interior.

Visually, the GTS resembles Cayenne Turbo, with large air intakes and 21-inch rims with 295/35 R21 tyres, which are housed with wheelarches that are enlarged by 14mm.

Two new colors have also been reserved exclusively for the GTS: GTS Red and Nordic Gold Metallic.

The GTS is due on sale internationally in the first quarter of next year, commanding a price premium of roughly 20 per cent over the standard Cayenne S.

It could be a handy addition to Porsche's Australian Cayenne line-up, which accounts for over a third of the brand's local sales (340 units until the end of August, out of a total of 1011 vehicles).