After a hiatus since the 2006 model year, the Cayenne Turbo S returned in 2009, and it's faster and more capable than ever. Porsche unveiled the new flagship at the Beijing auto show in early 2008, and compared to the first-generation Turbo S which had a smaller, less advanced twin-turbo V8, the new model makes 30 more horsepower and 23 more pound-feet of torque, at 550 and 553, respectively.

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The previous range-topped, the Turbo model, has a new 4.8 liter twin-turbo V8 with direct fuel-injection, makes 500 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The extra power came courtesy of a remapped engine management system along with a new exhaust system.

Porsche claims the S is 3 mph faster, with a top speed of 174 mph, flat out, and accelerates to 60 mph two-tenths quicker, at 4.7 seconds. As expected, other aspects differentiate the S from the standard Turbo. Optional for the first time in the Cayenne are ceramic composite brake discs to help match the added go. And according to European standards, the S is no thirstier than the standard Turbo.

The S also wears 21-inch SportPlus wheels, four tailpipes, body-color intake grills and fenders and an exclusive color option called Lava Gray metallic. All four wheels are driven through a six-speed automatic exclusively.

Making their debut on the S as options are carbon ceramic brakes, sized at 16.1 inches for the front rotors and squeezed by six-piston calipers and 14.6-inch rear brakes coupled with four-pot calipers. The brakes are also be available on the Cayenne S, GTS and Turbo, but only under wheels that are at least 20 inches in diameter.

The air suspension gets Porsche's Active Suspension Management system along with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control that includes active anti-roll bars for a flat cornering stance. Servotronic speed-sensitive electric power steering is also standard equipment.

From behind the wheel, drivers are be reminded they're in something special thanks to one of two exclusive leather combinations. The two-tone interiors are either black and Havana or black and steel gray and a leather steering wheel with a padded center. The front seats feature the maker's Comfort Memory Package as standard, while the rear seats get individual and more aggressive bolstering. Aluminum side sill plates spell out the name of the model.

A touch-screen navigation system and 14-speaker surround sound system tuned by Bose are also part of the package. The sound system is capable of reproducing video DVDs with 5.1 Discrete Surround formatting.