Pushing The Forbidden, Non-Euro Porsche Cayenne At The Nürburgring

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT We Deserve

For various reasons, it’s a well-known fact that not all markets get the exact same model. Some markets get worse versions of a certain model, and this time it’s the European Porsche fans who have drawn the short straw. While most of the world, including the U.S., got the heavier Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT E Hybrid, some markets, like, Mexico, got a purer, non-hybrid variant of the same model that packs a bit more power than the outgoing, non-hybrid Cayenne Turbo GT. At the same time, the non-Euro Cayenne Turbo GT seen here lugs around much less weight than the new hybrid Cayenne Turbo GT, which is weighed down by emissions regulations.

What makes the non-Euro Cayenne Turbo GT different?

Over in Mexico, you can still buy a 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT without the hybrid hardware. Most other major markets got the Turbo S E Hybrid, which for 2024 has a larger battery and a stronger electric motor, contributing to a system output of 729 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque versus 670 horsepower and 664 pound-feet for the previous model. This comes at a heavy (literally) price – a curb weight of 5,664 pounds. If people in most markets want a pure, non-hybrid Cayenne, they have to go for the 2024 Porsche Cayenne GTS.

The Mexican market Cayenne Turbo GT isn’t weighed down by the electric drivetrain components or the OPF filter, now mandatory on many new models, in most major markets. This translates to lighter weight (compared to the hybrid Cayenne), 4,894 pounds, which you should definitely feel around a race track. At the same time, due to having less emissions equipment fitted, the Cayenne Turbo GT boasts 656 horsepower – 14 more than the outgoing, 2023 Cayenne Turbo GT without the hybrid system.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is the SUV King of Nürburgring

At the time of writing this, the previous Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (non-hybrid) remains the fastest SUV around the iconic German race track. Porsche’s high-performance SUV set the record back in 2021, managing 7:38.925 around the Nordschleife. At the time, the Cayenne packed a bit less power than this non-Euro example featured here, so in theory, the Mexico-export model should be quicker around the track.

Agility over brute force

In case you are wondering why Porsche set the SUV record on the Nürburgring with the non-hybrid Cayenne Turbo GT, the answer is weight. The previous Cayenne Turbo GT E Hybrid packed only 39 more horsepower and had 694 extra pounds to lug around, resulting in a worse power-to-weight ratio – 264.3 horsepower per ton versus the non-hybrid’s 284.2 horsepower per ton.

This is also the reason why the less-powerful, non-hybrid model sprints to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds versus the hybrid’s 3.6 seconds. Porsche’s adaptive suspension system (PASM) plays a crucial role in the Cayenne Turbo GT’s handling, contributing to a 1.07 G of lateral acceleration, which is currently, the highest in the SUV segment. No wonder the big SUV manages to keep pace and even catch up to dedicated track weapons like the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. You can check the video to see how this translates into the Cayenne Turbo GT shaming plenty of performance cars on the "ring".