When Porsche first introduced the Cayenne to the world, questions were asked about whether there was any appetite for an SUV produced by a manufacturer more associated with the kind of vehicles that are so fast they're capable of loosening drain covers.
Over the years, the answer to that question has, of course, been answered, with Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Jaguar, even Rolls-Royce… the list goes on… all getting in on the act since the German supercar 4x4 first appeared.
The most recent of the bunch is Lotus, a manufacturer whose founder, Colin Chapman, said the brand’s whole attitude to design could be summed up in the instruction to “simplify, then add lightness”.
If even Lotus is on the case, there is a market for such vehicles, and it’s a hefty one.
As if to underline the fact, the Cayenne is now celebrating 20 years on (and, indeed, off) the tarmac, and Porsche shows no signs of discontinuing its manufacture. And nor should it as the model is very much a worthy part of the brand's line-up.
The Cayenne GTS Coupe is positioned between the S and Turbo models in the brand's food chain and it has been designed for especially sporty driving performance.
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And you definitely get that. A lot of big, posh SUVs these days are nifty movers, but the Cayenne most assuredly doesn't disappoint in the speed and power department.
In much the same way some proper sports cars do, the GTS goads you into putting your foot down, seemingly purring at you not to mistake it for one of those bulkier charabancs that might prove an embarrassment when sedately setting off after the lights go green.
It feels just a little bit brazen too — the GTS will reach 100 kilometres per hour from a standing start in 4.5 seconds, prompting you to forget fairly quickly you’re in a vehicle designed to cart many passengers and cargo around.
Something else worth mentioning is the addition of a sports exhaust system, which basically means you get a growl around the cabin when you start the car up or floor it. It's all very emotive.
The GTS Coupe has a swept-back look, which is now a common feature among a lot of the racier big rides on the market. It's all very lovely inside, too.
Tech comes in the shape of the Porsche Communication Management, which acts as the control centre for audio, navigation and communication. As well as a full-HD 12.3-inch touchscreen display, the system also features various interfaces, a voice-control system and online connection.
There are some minor irritations — turning the engine on and off is needlessly complicated (one assumes the designers wanted to give the feel of starting a jet fighter, maybe). This is only one example, but there are other elements that seem needlessly complex.
These are indeed small complaints compared to the quality of the rest of the ride, however. Despite the attempts at producing an old-school SUV, the Cayenne is sophisticated and fun to drive (and be driven) around in.
This would not be the only vehicle of its type that feels more like a sports car than a people carrier when you get out on the road, but it's always special when a manufacturer manages to achieve this. Frankly, the Cayenne does it as well as any.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
More on Quran memorisation:
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TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
No.6 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Oppenheimer
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
'Midnights'
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
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