| New range topper | Auto China 2008 | Porsche Cayenne Turbo S |

Visitors to the Beijing motor show witnessed the world debut of the most powerful Porsche Cayenne yet, with the arrival of the new Turbo S model. Packing 550bhp from its twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 engine, the new Turbo S has 50bhp more than the previous range topper.

Thanks to all that power, the Cayenne Turbo S covers 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and top out at 174mph. The extra power has been found by modifying the exhaust and tweaking the engine management, and you can spot the new Turbo S by its revised quad exhaust pipes.

Another way to tell the latest Turbo S apart from lesser models is its body-coloured front air intakes, which are larger than a standard Cayenne's. There are also colour-coded wheel arch extensions and 21-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, the Cayenne Turbo S has sports front seats, leather upholstery, standard satellite navigation with touch screen functionality and a Bose stereo with DVD player.

Not so obvious are the standard air suspension - that allows the driver to alter the ride height of the Cayenne - and the Porsche Active Suspension Management. The latter combines with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control to improve the handling of the Turbo S over other Cayennes. The Turbo S is also available with the option of ceramic brakes discs to help haul its 2.3-tonne weight to a stop.

Porsche chose to launch the Cayenne Turbo S at the Beijing show as sales of luxury SUVs are soaring in China thanks to a rapidly booming economy. Sales of the Turbo S in Europe start in August and it's expected to cost around £90,000 in the UK.

Alisdair Suttie - 21 Apr 2008