Porsche: born to race

Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet takes off eagerly, thanks to its 430-HP 3.8-liter flat 6, while the new Cayenne SUV prowls in the background.

Porsches have a reputation for building everyday supercars, thanks to their reliability and usability on normal roads. But the best way to experience their performance is on a racetrack.

With that in mind, Porsche brought us to the Bira racetrack in Thailand. The objective of the Porsche Media Academy was to upgrade our driving skills, so we can better appreciate the cars’ capabilities.

On an alternately searing hot and soaking wet track, we got to experience all the classes of the Porsche lineup: rear- and mid-engine sports car, large sedan, large SUV and compact SUV.

Porsche 911 Turbo. This is known as “The Beast” even to our experienced instructors, and with good reason. Its turbocharged flat-six engine whips out 520 horsepower and up to 750 Newton-meters of torque when the engine goes on overboost.   It shoots the car to 100 kilometers per hour in three seconds flat.

The 911 Turbo certainly looks the part, with its wide rear track, retractable spoiler, and 20-inch center-lock wheels. And yet, the chassis is so capable that it doesn’t feel like a handful on the track.

A sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, active antiroll system, and dynamic engine mounts ensure that even beginners can tame The Beast, at least on the track.

Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet. In terms of power, the GTS is a step down from the Turbo. Its 3.8-liter flat-six is normally aspirated and produces “only” 430 HP. That’s still plenty, and nearly the power of the previous 911 GT3.

Where the GTS has an edge over its turbocharged brother is in the engine sound. Optimized intake airflow and tuned exhaust combine for a hair-prickling soundtrack.

It’s too bad that for safety reasons, and because of the torrential rain, we couldn’t lower the top to hear more of it.

Porsche Cayman GTS. Speaking of sound, the Cayman GTS produced, hands down, the loudest, throatiest and most orgasmic engine notes of the fleet. It certainly helps that the engine was just a few centimeters behind our ears.

Porsche’s latest “tiger,” the Macan compact SUV, proved to be stable through extreme maneuvers such as the emergency braking with evasive action test.

That mid-engine layout also gives the Cayman lightning-quick response and unflappable stability. The almost telepathic handling was a delight on the slalom course.

Those were the sports cars, which Porsche engineers can design and build in their sleep. Even after two generations of SUVs and sedans bearing the Porsche badge, it’s still a bit of a shock when we flog them on the track and find them surprisingly capable.

Porsche Panamera S. We won’t initiate a debate about the Panamera’s looks, but suffice to say that it’s what a 911 limousine would look like.

Its antics on the track are potentially wilder than the 911, as all drive goes to the rear wheels. With 420 “horses” coming from the twin-turbo V6 engine, a heavy right foot could easily kick out the rear on the wet and slippery Bira track.

Ask your driver to behave herself, though, and the Panamera performs as a smooth, quiet business jet for the road.

Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid. The plug-in hybrid version of the Panamera adds a lithium-ion battery capable of driving the car alone, or in parallel with the gasoline engine. It’s capable of running up to 134 kph in electric mode.

The Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet lets loose its throaty roar down the main straight of the Bira Circuit.

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid. This Cayenne was the unlikely star of the most fun exercise of the day: a full-on drag race on Bira’s main straight. Aside from better fuel economy and less pollution, the benefit of the hybrid system in the Cayenne is sheer acceleration.

With the instantaneous torque of the electric motor, the Cayenne is quicker off the line than the Cayman GTS. Like the Panamera plug-in hybrid, the Cayenne S E-hybrid can run on electric power alone, up to 125 kph. Working with the supercharged V6 engine, top speed is 242 kph.

Porsche Macan. Going for a younger, female audience, Porsche launched the compact SUV Macan. Being much smaller and lighter than the Cayenne, the Macan acquitted itself well on the racetrack.

The twin-turbo engine delivers power seamlessly via the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Its solid, firm ride and responsive handling are also suitable for the concrete jungle.

This is the most “everyday” of the Porsche lineup, with its performance easily accessible, even if the owner doesn’t come within a hundred kilometers from a racetrack.