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MANHART Cayenne CRT 800: Turning Porsche's Big SUV Into A Rocket

Hold off on that Porsche Cayenne Turbo E Hybrid if you want a souped up Cayenne, because MANHART may have something better for you

by Dimitar Angelov on October 7, 2024, 15:00

The Porsche Cayenne is an overachiever in a multitude of fields. The first generation of Porsche’s SUV was instrumental in keeping the sports car manufacturer afloat while the current-generation Cayenne is about as close as you can get to a sports car while still offering some off-road capabilities. Regardless of the model and platform, Porsches have mostly offered a great baseline for tuners to extract even more performance. There are more than a few notable names in the business, but few can match the long-term experience as well as MANHART.

Since 1986, the South German tuning company has been boosting the performance of, not just Porsches, but several iconic sports cars from a number of automakers. Nowadays, the tuner also works on BMW, McLaren, Alfa Romeo, and other companies while still doing extensive work on Porsche’s offerings. The non-hybrid Cayenne seems to be the most suitable candidate to benefit from MANHART’s CRT 800 package, which takes the Porsche SUV in its most athletic form and transforms it into a low-flying Autobahn missile. If you have a 2023 Cayenne Turbo and are considering switching to the 2024 Cayenne Turbo E Hybrid, in search of more performance, here’s why the MANHART Cayenne CRT800 might be a much better option for you.

What does MANHART’s CRT 800 package do to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo?

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MANHART has chosen to develop the CRT 800 Package specifically for the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo and not the Turbo S model. The reason is that on the less-powerful Cayenne Turbo, you get better gains since the Turbo and Turbo S are mechanically identical unless you opt for the Turbo S E Hybrid, which is actually slower to 60 mph than the non-hybrid Turbo S.

The CRT 800 treatment enhances the already potent, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 with upgraded turbos and intercoolers, accompanied by a software upgrade. Here, you have two choices – an ECU remap by MANHART or the company’s own MHtronic that works alongside the stock ECU. This is accompanied by a TCU upgrade for the eight-speed ZF automatic. There is also an upgraded MANHART exhaust with 3.93-inch tips that are, either, ceramic-coated or carbon-fiber.

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The treatment also includes an OPF delete and stainless-steel replacement pipes. A 200-cell catalytic converter is also available. The result? The MANHART Cayenne CRT 800 takes the stock Cayenne Turbo’s 550 horsepower and 568 pound-feet to 809 horsepower and 804 pound-feet. If you have any issue with the Porsche 992.2 adopting a hybrid powertrain and lust after a performance SUV with a burbling V-8, this one is right up your alley.

The MANHART Cayenne CRT 800 should handle like a 911

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I am, in no way, suggesting that a big, heavy SUV can handle as well as Porsche’s iconic 911. That said, if any automaker can make a heavy car feel light, it’s Porsche, and we have already seen this with the record-breaking Porsche Panamera Turbo S E Hybrid. With a horsepower bump of over 250, the people at MANHART also had to tweak the Cayenne Turbo’s suspension.

The tuner has lowered the ride height by 35 mm and has performed a number of chassis enhancements, including new coupling rods and recalibrating the factory air suspension. The SUV’s center of gravity has been greatly reduced and along with the other chassis upgrades the Cayenne Turbo now handles as close as possible to a proper sports car (without actually being one).

MANHART’s signature touches

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The German tuner knows how to take a stylish performance SUV like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and give it striking new looks without going berserk. The MANHART Cayenne CRT 800 gets the traditional for the tuner, gold stripes, and MANHART lettering. Optionally, you can get a front spoiler and rear diffuser, both of which are made of carbon fiber. The visuals are rounded off with a set of gloss-black wheels with golden accents, measuring 10.5x22 inches front and 11.5x22 inches at the rear.

Those are wrapped in Hankook summer tires measuring 285/35ZR22 at the front and 315/30ZR22 at the rear. Upon request, the brakes and wheel finish can be configured to the customer’s requirements. Unless you opt for additional customization options, the interior remains identical to the stock Cayenne Turbo.

The Most Sensible Insensible Choice

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The CRT 800 package is best suited for the non-hybrid Porsche Cayenne Turbo as that’s where it shows the biggest gains. If you already own this version of Porsche’s SUV, this means you have made the practical choice to save up to $50,000 by not going for the more expensive Cayenne Turbo modes like the Cayenne Turbo S E Hybrid or the Cayenne GT, which recently got a new package for the hybrid Cayenne Turbo Coupe.

MANHART will only share the price of the CRT 800 kit for the Cayenne upon request. I managed to get a quote from them, which was jsut over $27,600 (without VAT), for the full package. Depending on whether you only want the performance modifications or you want to go for the full kit, including all aesthetic upgrades, prices may vary.

How Does MANHART Cayenne CRT 800 Compared to The 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E Hybrid?

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Stock for stock, MANHART’s CRT 800 is the obvious winner, especially when we consider the Turbo E Hybrid starts at $158,995 before you start ticking off any desired options from the Cayenne configurator. Here’s how the regular, 2023 Cayenne Turbo, MANHART Cayenne CRT 800, and 2025 Cayenne Turbo E Hybrid compare in terms of performance specs:

Performance specifications 2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo MANHART Cayenne CRT 800 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E Hybrid
Engine 4.0-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo V-8 4.0-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo V-8 4.0-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo V-8 + 1x e-Motor
Power 550 horsepower at 5,750-6,000 RPM 809 horsepower 729 horsepower at 5,500-6,800 RPM
Torque 568 pound-feet at 2,000-4,500 RPM 804 pound-feet 700 pound-feet at 900-5,130 RPM
Transmission 8-speed automatic 8-speed automatic 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain Front engine, 4WD Front engine, 4WD Front engine, 4WD
Curb weight 4,850 pounds  4,800 pounds 5,721 pounds
0-60 mph 3.7 seconds 3.2 seconds 3.5 seconds
Top speed 177 mph TBA 183 mph
Dimitar Angelov

Dimitar Angelov

Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio