First introduced in 2002, the Cayenne->ke212 is one of the premier vehicles to blend high-performance speed with the stance and road presence of an SUV.->ke145 Despite rapid growth and growing popularity in the segment, Porsche remains a leader by staying one step ahead, a move embodied by the introduction of the 2016 Cayenne Turbo S.

With an official reveal at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the new top-range Cayenne features an updated twin-turbo, V-8 engine and a chassis capable of slinging around 5,000 pounds like a Wii controller in the hands of a hyperactive kid.

The company claims every vehicle it makes is a “genuine sports car”, even if it happens to weigh two and a half tons. It doesn’t really matter if you agree with that statement or not, because when it comes down to it, the Cayenne Turbo S is more than capable of producing numbers that even some of the most track-oriented vehicles in the world have a tough time besting.

Here’s a number for you: a lap around the North Loop at the Nürburgring->ke999 under eight minutes, at 7:59.74. Here’s another: 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Clearly, mass is no object when it comes to the engineers from Stuttgart.

With a launch date in the U.S. scheduled for late April, the new Cayenne looks to set a new pace in the world of fast, luxury SUVs. It’s a mind-bending automobile, and for those folks who want it all, including comfortable seating for four passengers, and a 0-to-60 time faster than a 911 Carrera 4S, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Updated 01/23/2015: We've added a series of new images from the car's official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Check the new images in the "Pictures" tab.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.

Exterior

Exhibiting all those classic design cues that we’ve come to expect from Porsche, the 2016 Cayenne Turbo S comes with a few new features that add even more sporty flair to the exterior. The biggest attention grabbers are the standard 21-inch 911 Turbo style wheels, which hug the fender wells on a lowered body with menacing intent. Also standard are LED headlights equipped with Porsche’s Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus), which can dynamically adjust beam intensity and range when detecting oncoming traffic, as well as beam width when cornering.

The front end is fitted with a high-gloss black surround for the air inlet and undersides of the door mirrors, while the rear roof spoiler and wheel arch moldings are matched to the overall paint color. Buyers will also have a variety of options at their disposal, like a panoramic roof system, an understated body kit, and stainless steel skid plates if you happen to be crazy enough to drive your Cayenne onto dirt.

Exterior Dimensions

Interior

The interior on the Cayenne Turbo S is as well appointed as just about any other six-figure SUV, with abundant leather, aluminum, wood, and Alcantara spread throughout, not to mention a generous helping of carbon to remind you what’s lurking just beneath the throttle.

Options include a choice between either highly bolstered sport seats, or flatter comfort seats, both of which are ventilated for a little extra money. There are also plenty of electronic driving aides, like adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and lane departure warning. Finally, a black/crème color combo makes the list alongside 10 other alternatives.

Drivetrain

The competition surrounding fast SUVs is definitely accelerating, which prompted Porsche to add a little more juice to the 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V-8 petrol engine sitting under the Cayenne’s bonnet. With an extra 20 ponies and 37 pound-feet, the new Turbo S sports 570 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque running through all four wheels. In total, nearly half a second has been sliced from the 0-to-60 time, while top speed hovers around 176 mph. Throttle response has also been improved by moving the turbos to integrate them directly into the exhaust manifold, which reduces spool time and fattens the torque curve.

A slew of electronic Porsche racing technology keeps the shiny side up on this enormously quick (and enormously sized) vehicle. Most amazing are the Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB), which are installed in the front with 16.5-inch diameter rotors, and gargantuan 10 piston-calipers. The rear brakes are puny by comparison, with scrawny 14.6-inch rotors and dinky four-piston calipers.

Body lean is a serious issue when cornering 5,000 pounds at triple-digit speeds, so a Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system is called to action for active roll stabilization. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) also increases stability through the bends by applying brakes to either the left or right side of the vehicle. A permanent all-wheel-drive system and Porsche Traction Management (PTM) provides max grip.

Finally, there’s an optional sport exhaust that can transmit all that glorious V-8 rumble directly into the cabin at the touch of a button.

Drivetrain Specifications

Prices

Available in the U.S. this spring, the Cayenne Turbo S can be had for $158,295. That includes all the most important standard features, but there are a few nice options to choose from for those interested in customizing their S Über V. For the money, it’s about right.

Competition

Bentley Bentayga

Back in 2013, Bentley publicly announced its intention to build an SUV, a first in its lineup of coupes, sedans, and convertibles. What’s more, the British premium brand declared that it would be the “most powerful and luxurious” vehicle in its class. Finally, in an interview with AutoCar, Bentley’s head honcho Wolfgang Dürheimer said the Bentayga will be the most expensive SUV on the market, at $220,000.

With so many bold claims flying around, the rumor mill is running at full tilt, with possible engine options including a twin-turbo V-8, and even a W-12. Regardless, we’ll know soon enough, as the Bentayga should break cover some time later this year, with sales beginning in 2016. A plug-in hybrid is scheduled to follow soon thereafter in 2017.

Range Rover Sport SVR

Originally released in 2006, the Range Rover Sport was blessed with a ton of power to challenge the luxury performance SUVs of BMW and Mercedes. Now, Range Rover has a new model called the SVR, and it brings the Sport philosophy to a whole other level.

Seen from the rear (no doubt a common sight), there’s a quad exhaust sitting among a rear diffuser, flared wheel arches, and standard 21-inch wheels, lending it quite the aggressive demeanor. The interior is pleasant, with leather upholstery, aluminum trim, and all the fixings you’d expect. But most importantly, there’s the outstanding performance.

This latest mega-powered SVR model comes with a supercharged, 5.0-liter V-8, making it the most powerful Range Rover ever created. With 542 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, the SVR can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and run to a top speed of 162 mph. It can also turn pretty well, with a Nürburgring lap time clocked at 8 minutes and 14 seconds.

While not quite as fast as the Cayenne Turbo S, the SVR is significantly cheaper, with starting prices coming in at $111,400. Is $47K worth 14 seconds per lap at the Ring? I suppose it depends on who you ask.

Conclusion

Back in early 2000s, the Cayenne did a magnificent job in bolstering sales for the struggling Porsche brand. Nowadays, it's still one of the best-selling models to come from Stuttgart, and the new Turbo S model should be no different. In many ways it’s the standard for performance SUVs. For anyone who wants to run circles around pretty much everything else on the road on their way to pick up a family of four and a week's worth of groceries, this is it. Just be prepared to smash that piggy bank before hitting the Porsche dealership.