Limited-edition Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 to hit the streets

Like the Porsche Cayman S Design Edition 1 and Boxster S Design Edition 2 before it, the Cayenne GTS Design Edition 3 shows off what German automaker's industrial design shop can do. The Cayenne version continues the trend set by the Cayman S and Boxster S with special dark striping on the doors and hood that subtly contrasts with the unique Lava Grey Metallic paint color. The 21-inch SportPlus wheels are also cast in the same dark color and feature this spokes through which the GTS' braking hardware can be viewed. A roof spoiler, tinted glass and special "Porsche Design Edition 3" badging round out the exterior accouterments. The interior is finished with lots of carbon fiber trim, black leather and contrasting red stitching, while more "Porsche Design Edition 3" branding can be found on the tach face, door sill and a placard in the glove box along with the vehicle's serial number.

While there are no real performance improvements to this limited edition version of the Cayenne GTS, which is already a capable performance SUV, you do get a sports exhaust and slightly lowered suspension. What may sway buyers more are the Porsche Design accessories that come standard, including a chronograph watch and four-piece luggage set. Only 1,000 examples of the Porsche Cayenne GTS Design Edition 3 will be made, each starting at €79,100 in Europe where they'll be exclusively sold and $89,900 in the U.S. where only 100 will be sold.

UPDATE: U.S. press release added after jump.

[Source: Porsche]

PRESS RELEASE:

Limited to fewer than 100 units in the United States, this high-performance SUV bears styling touches from the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria

ATLANTA – March 25, 2009 ---- Porsche will offer U.S. customers a very limited version of its Cayenne SUV, the 2010 Cayenne GTS Porsche® Design Edition 3. Featuring interior and exterior styling cues that help communicate this unique Porsche's high-performance personality, it is the first time the Porsche Design stylists have chosen an SUV rather than one of Porsche's sports cars.

Available through authorized Porsche dealers in the second half of this year for an MSRP of $89,900, the Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 comes in Lava Grey Metallic with special design stripes adorning the sides and the hood. Bi-Xenon™ headlights are standard, yet they are finished in black to tie in with the dark privacy glass on windows rear of the B-pillar and the monochrome black exterior package for the window surrounds, door handles and door trim.

Adding to the look is the 'Cayenne GTS' model designation on the rear liftgate in black with the 'S' in red, and the standard 21-inch SportPlus wheels and the wheel arch extensions finished in Lava Grey Metallic. Finally, customers can select an extended roof spoiler with a double-wing profile as a no-cost option.

Upon opening the door, the unique styling is immediately noticeable with the 'Porsche Design Edition 3' logo appearing on the stainless steel door entry guards. Exclusive black leather interior with contrasting red stitching in the seams on the upper dashboard and door trim, floor mats and cargo area mat further enhance the looks of this limited edition Cayenne.

Other interior accents include electrically adjustable sport seats with extended memory and raised bolsters for additional lateral support, the Porsche crest embossed on the headrests, and the center sections of the front and rear seats finished in non-slip Alcantara. The center console, the door linings, the inner sections of the door handles, and the entire roof lining are trimmed in Alcantara, as well. A padded rim on the three-spoke multifunction steering wheel; carbon trim strips; the 'Porsche Design Edition 3' logo on the tachometer face; a 410-watt, 14-speaker Bose® 5.1 Surround Sound System; and a glovebox badge bearing the series production number round out the interior package.

Performance comes via a 4.8-liter V8 engine fitted with a Sport Exhaust System as standard equipment and mated to Porsche's six-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. With 405 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 can sprint to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds on its way to a top test track speed of 156 mph. Also standard is the ParkAssist system and air suspension with a ride height that is .78 of an inch lower than the air suspension system available on the Cayenne and Cayenne S and standard on the Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S.

Like its sister limited edition models --- the Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 and the Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 – this special model includes as standard equipment several Porsche Design accessories. For this car, the Porsche Design Studio has created a Type P'6612 automatic chronograph featuring a light titanium casing measuring 1.65 inches (42 mm) in diameter. It also has a metal strap with DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, a special coating carried over from racing engines that gives the titanium casing its characteristic color. Finally, the exclusive chronograph face plays off of the Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3's unique interior. Also included is a four-piece luggage set (three trolley cases in various sizes and a functional briefcase) bearing the Porsche Design Edition 3 label.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., is the exclusive importer of Porsche sports cars and sport utility vehicles for the United States. It is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. PCNA employs approximately 180 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 201 dealers. The dealers, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Throughout its 60-year history, Porsche has developed numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety and spurred environmental innovations within the automotive industry. The company continues to celebrate its heritage by adding to its long list of motorsports victories dating back to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in 1951. Today, with more than 28,000 victories, Porsche is recognized as the world's most successful marque in sports car racing. PCNA, which imports the iconic 911 series, the Boxster and Cayman sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles and soon the Panamera gran turismo for the United States, strives to maintain a standard of excellence, commitment and distinction synonymous with its brand.