Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3

That’s an awfully long name for an awful lot of car. “P-car” purists have bemoaned the Cayenne since its inception and I’m not sure this new limited release is likely to do anything to restore their faith. However, as Porsche claims, if the Cayenne helps put big overweight bums on seats, then there’s a reason to make a big overweight Porsche.

Only 1000 Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 will be released worldwide and for your money you get exclusive Lava Grey paintwork with a few fancy decals. You also get, importantly, a 405bhp 4.8 litre V8 fitted with six-speed Tiptronic S transmission featured as standard (what, no PDK!). That’s enough to take this porker from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 250km/h.

As the name suggests, the Design Edition 3 follows in the footsteps of the Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 and the Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2. How come no 911 version, I wonder? UK pricing for the Cayenne iteration comes in a shade under £65,000 (AU$136,ooo). And, further making light of taking money from those who can most afford to give it away are the matching Design Edition 3 watch and luggage. You also get a free track day at Silverstone for good measure.

More piccies and words after the jumps.

UPDATED 27 March: The Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 is coming to Australia and is due here in September. Pricing will start at $$199,700. (Thanks to Revhed for the tip.)

Porsche unveils the Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3

Porsche is expanding the successful Cayenne range with the Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3, which will be limited to just one thousand numbered units worldwide. This new Cayenne model features styling cues that underline the V8-powered, high-performance personality of this Porsche and it will be available to special customer order from May.

The clear imprint of the Porsche Design Studio, based in Zell am See, Austria, which is one of the world leaders in industrial and product design, on this new Cayenne model can be seen in the choice of the paintwork colour, Lava Grey Metallic, chosen to emphasise the sporting stance of the car. This is underlined further by design stripes along the side and on the bonnet and 21-inch diameter SportPlus alloy wheels that are also colour co-ordinated to match the special exterior colour.

The elegant exterior appearance of this new model is rounded off by bi-xenon headlights and dark privacy glazing to the rear of the B-pillar, and the ‘Cayenne GTS’ model designation in black with a red “S” at the rear. An extended roof spoiler with a double wing profile is available as a no-cost option.

Inside the Cayenne Porsche Design Edition 3, the exclusive treatment continues with black leather upholstery throughout, with red contrasting seams on the instrument panel and doors. A three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, in turn, raises the car’s unique sporting character even higher.

Electrically adjustable sports seats with a comfort memory package and side support bolsters offer the driver and front passenger optimum seating comfort. The front headrests proudly display an embossed Porsche logo and the centre seat sections front and rear are finished in alcantara. The same material gives parts of the centre console and door trims and the complete roof lining a discreet but sophisticated touch, while carbon trim provides a subtle reference to motor sport. Finally, the ‘Porsche Design Edition 3’ model designation stands out clearly on the rev counter, the front door sill kick plates and on a plate in the glove compartment with the serial number of the vehicle embossed on the surface.

The unique experience in sound so typical of a Porsche comes, firstly, at the touch of a button from the sports exhaust system featured as standard and also from the Bose 5.1 Surround Sound System with no less than 14 loudspeakers and overall output of 410 W.

The purposeful exhaust note hints at the outstanding performance of this special Cayenne, with a 405bhp 4.8-litre V8 and six-speed Tiptronic S transmission featured as standard. On the road, this means acceleration from 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds, and a top speed of 156 mph.

Like the Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 and the Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 which preceded this special Cayenne model, every Porsche Design Edition is supplied with unique Porsche Design accessories. The Porsche Design Chronograph watch exclusively matching each model, for example, stands for particular design values and style. In the case of the Porsche Design Edition 3, the Porsche Design Studio has created a Type P’6612 automatic chronograph featuring a light titanium casing measuring 42 millimetres in diameter and further enhanced by a metal strap with DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. This special coating is carried over from racing engines and gives the titanium body of the watch its characteristic colour, while the exclusive face of the chronograph takes up striking design features from the interior of the Cayenne.

Another perfect match for this vehicle is the four-piece luggage set bearing the ‘Porsche Design Edition 3’ label and comprised of three trolley cases varying in size and a functional briefcase. All items may be used on aircraft as carry-on travel baggage, with the exception of the largest trolley case offering a capacity of 62 litres.

The Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 is available to from Porsche Centres in the UK and Ireland from £64,753. Fitted to every Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 is a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard, and customers will also be able to explore the potential of their new car by participating in a complimentary course at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre, Silverstone.