The other day, Mercedes Benz tuner Brabus announced their twin turbocharged GLK V12 to be the fastest street legal SUV in the world. Right down the Autobahn from Brabus is the Porsche tuner TechArt, who took on the top speed challenge with one of their highly modified Cayenne->ke212s. They started off with a base turbo Porsche and then added 130 HP shot in the arm with their TA 055/2.2 performance package which bring the SUV's maximum output to 680 HP thanks to some new engine electronics.

Combined with TechArt's aerodynamic package and their "Sport" air suspension, Sandro Reuter drove the TechArt modified Turbo Cayenne to an official top speed of 321.2 km/h, or 199.5 MPH on this side of the pond. Although the post op GLK retains the title of the world's fastest road certified utility vehicle, there is a lot of work that went in to swapping the 750 HP Biturbo V12, but on the other hand TechArt's mods are a bit on the more practical side and only left the car about 10 MPH shy of the record, so in the grand scheme of things they didn't do so bad. For now TechArt will just have to settle for building the world's fastest street legal full size SUV, that is until they attempt to stuff a W16 from a Veyron->ke1112 under the hood.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

TECHART Automobildesign really set the sparks flying at this year`s trial of strength at the High Speed Event in Nardo/Italy. Test driver Sandro Reuter reached a top speed of 321,2 km/h, respectively 200 mph, with the TECHART refined Porsche Cayenne Turbo. TECHART thus secured a new speed record for Fullsize-SUVs. The circular 12.4 kilometer track is still considered to be the world´s fastest motor racing circuit, even ahead of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the United States.

The winner car, refined with the TECHART equipment, is based on a Porsche Cayenne Turbo with Turbo S technology. The installed TA 055/2.2 performance kit takes the engine up to 680 hp, an increase of 130 hp compared with the standard production model. The Aerodynamics Kit I, together with the “Sport” air suspension module, additionally delivered the necessary performance on the circuit.

But thought was also given to TECHART´s usual external upgrades on the vehicle. The TECHART daytime running lights, sports steering wheel, carbon kit, aluminium pedals, decorative stitching and seat belts in gray, additional leather in Luxury Black and illuminated door entry guards with the TECHART logo made the car to a highlight in the pit lane.

Along with the driver`s skills, this success was primarily driven by the perfect, systematic adjustment of the wheels and the suspension. For the record run at moderate temperatures the TECHART Team chose Continental Cross Contact UHP high-performance tires on 22-inch TECHART Formula rims, which were exposed to specific loading as a result of the one-sided cornering on the circuit. Longstanding TECHART test driver Sandro Reuter said with great satisfaction: “The SUV was ideally prepared for the event. Both the engine and the tires showed a high level of performance and consistency.”