Advocates of the anti-SUV campaign are probably not acquainted with this new GEMBALLA conversion, simply titled Tornado GTS and GTR. If they were they could be converted to SUV campaigners in an instant. The vehicle is based on the 957 Porsche Cayenne Turbo and features power previously reserved for razor-door type supercars. In its previous life, the GEMBALLA conversion was extensively covered.

Meanwhile, new GTS features adjustable seats, a panoramic roof and 4WD. Optional are the multimedia package and the cooling box. As you can probably tell from these pictures, this is a sort of coupe SUV as it sits quite some way closer to the ground than normal. The rear seats as well are as adjustable as the front seats, and offer the same level of sportiness whether you are watching traffic flash by or steering the beast yourself.

GTR features lightweight materials, racing seats and 2WD as an option.

There is only a little connection left between the GEMBALLA TORNADO 750 GTS and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. At the most, the Porsche SUV is the master model for the latest development by the automobile manufacturer from Leonberg near Stuttgart. Already at first glance, the targeted goal of the technicians at GEMBALLA Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG can be clearly defined: away from the SUV and more to an uncompromising sports car. The reason for the performed metamorphosis was the large amount of requests for a high performance sports car with the dimensions and the spacious interior of an SUV. 25 years of experience with innovative products based on Porsche sports cars contributed to the development of this new automobile. The unique signature of owner Uwe Gemballa is also clearly visible with the TORNADO 750 GTS: 750 hp and a vehicle weight reduced by 250 kg are only two unique selling points of this superb automobile. Once again, the company confirms its expertise when it comes to striking design and an especially powerful engine technology.

Striking design for highest requirements

In order to meet the sports car´s increased requirements in terms of light construction and torsional stiffness, Uwe Gemballa´s team optimised nearly the entire auto body. For this reason, the ultra-strength and especially light material carbon is mainly used. A front apron extended by 60 millimetres with integrated aero lip generates more downthrust at the front axle and in connection with the also extended rear section it renders the typical elongated sports car look. Extensive air inlets suck in additional fresh air for the engine, oil- and air intercooler; and moreover, an air duct system even brings the air to the front brakes. On the other hand, the engine heat is effectively diverted by air ducts in the also newly designed bonnet. The special highlight of the bonnet is its fusion with the front wings and the new, converse opening mechanism. Compared to the serial Cayenne, the one-part bonnet-wing-unit now opens forward and therefore allows a better access to the engine.

The outstanding eye-catchers of the TORNADO flanks are the body extensions which are fitted all the way from the front to the rear. They make space for the extremely broad 12-inch rims and in connection with the new side skirts they render a dynamic look.

The aerodynamics specialists also extensively optimised the rear section. The rear skirt has been extended by 40 millimetres and for additional downthrust, a race diffuser has been added. A rear spoiler with carbon flaps perfects the aerodynamic overall package.

When designing the body kit, GEMBALLA does not leave any doubt that the TORNAGO 750 GTS is a full-blooded sports car. In order to emphasise this claim, GEMBALLA adds designer characteristics which are typical for sports cars: Round double tail lights and four end pipes of the high performance exhaust system which have been integrated in the rear skirt, confirm the powerful appearance.

Extensive modifications at the driving gear render impressive results

On the one hand, the combination of the sport exhaust system, the sport catalysers and the optimised racing header render the sporty and earthy sound of the V8. On the other hand this is a substantial part of the profound modifications at the serial power engine of the Cayenne Turbo. But the main feature of the engine makeover is the increase of the cubic capacity up to five litres. Here, the GEMBALLA engine experts fitted fortified forged pistons, special connecting rods and racing turbochargers. An air intercooler with a 90 percent larger cooling area supplies enough cold air. All these components are precisely adjusted to each other with the help of new engine electronics maps.

The result: with a top performance of 750 hp / 552 kW at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 1,050 Nm at 3200 rpm, the GEMBALLA engine meets the wishes of its ambitious customers from motor sports and also renders excellent performance values. The 4WD automobile accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in only 4.3 seconds and with a maximum velocity of over 300 km/h, the GEMBALLA TORNADO 750 GTS is significantly more powerful than its serial counterpart.

Running gear and wheels for adequate grip and agile handling

The TORNADO was equipped with an adjustable coilover kit which has been especially adjusted to the enormous performance potential. This allows lowering the car by up to 70 millimetres and therefore permits a variable adjustment of the setup to every individual driver and scope of use.

The right grip is provided by the tailor-made wheel-tyre combination for the GEMBALLA TORNADO 750 GTS: The multi-part, especially light GT SPORT forged rims are available in 12Jx22 with tyres measuring 335/25 Z 22.
By manufacturing the wheels in forged technology, they are extremely light. Moreover, the weight of the unsprung masses is reduced which significantly improves the handling as well as acceleration and braking response.

The high-performance braking system with the punched and slit XXL discs guarantees optimal deceleration values. In order to provide the perfect gas pedal response, the GEMBALLA technicians used 6-piston brake callipers with 420mm discs at the front axle and 4-piston brake callipers with 380mm discs at the rear axle.

4-seater with state of the art interior

As usual, GEMBALLA builds the interior in an unsurpassable quality and in an innovative design. The four single sports seats which offer all passengers a unique seating experience when driving winding roads are another highlight. The hand-holds which are embedded in the rear centre console provide further support.

The new front centre console with the lifted gearbox and the Data Control System renders a real cockpit feeling. The harmonically integrated display presents driving data such as acceleration, cross-acceleration and deceleration values. But also comfort is not neglected in the TORNADO: Stylish and in artisan perfection, GEMBALLA integrates state of the art Rear Seat Entertainment components and combines these with finest materials, such as high-quality leather, carbon fibre or aluminium.

GEMBALLA – the specialist for high end Porsche refinements and innovative engineering design offers the GEMBALLA TORNADO GTS in a limited edition of 50 cars for a price from 400,000 euros.

This exciting car is significant not only because it is the first creation of GEMBALLA GmbH, but also because its light and strong carbon-fibre body panels showcase the way forward for the top players in the aftermarket industry, raising the bar for exclusive car manufacturers. In the past, it was commonplace to bond carbon-fibre parts to modified factory steel panels.

However, this does not significantly lighten a car, nor is it a rigorous use of this lightweight material. “Carbon-fibre is a high strength, low weight structural material that needs to be used honestly, and not just for decoration,” explains GEMBALLA GmbH CEO, Andreas Schwarz. Thus, other than its steel body-in-white, rear quarter and roof panels and hatchback, almost all the steel body panels on the TORNADO are replaced by carbon-fibre equivalents.

The carbon-fibre bonnet, front wings, side sill covers, doors, front and rear bumper/valance and rear hatch outer skin save around 70kg compared to the original steel panels and PU bumpers, and all the new panels use the factory mounting points. However, security-related features, such as the passenger safety cell and door side impact protection are untouched, and none of the modifications compromise comfort either. While this is an expensive alternative to the traditional methods, there is a good reason to do it this way apart from just weight saving. “Cutting, filing, and then bonding and blending materials with different coefficients of expansion is setting yourself up for problems further down the line unless the work is done perfectly,” says Andreas Schwarz. “In very hot or cold climates, where many of our clients live, extremes of temperature may eventually cause problems like cracking and de-lamination. So while one-piece carbon-fibre panels are expensive, it means that the fit and finish, whether the new panels are left in visible carbon or painted, will be perfect and consistent. In addition, the relative ease of fitting makes life easier for our dealers around the world.”

The new front styling delivers significant autobahn overtaking presence with the large grille, flanked by two smaller ones providing copious amounts of ram air for the two stages of uprated, twin-turbocharged engine. Brake cooling ducts sit beside the fog lights, and the vertical LED daytime running lights also help to give the GEMBALLA Tornado that all-important instant recognition factor. The complete carbon-fibre door assemblies are designed as direct replacements for the steel factory units, and incorporate the factory steel side impact protection bars, central locking and electric window mechanisms. The recessed surfaces, in matt finished visible carbon, give the sides of the TORNADO a heavily sculpted look, inspired by the GEMBALLA AVALANCHE GTR. The same matt black visible carbon finish is used on the new tail panel and rear corners. Because of the structural architecture of the rear quarter panels, the wider rear wheel arches are grafted to the car by the more normal method of cutting the metal, and bonding and blending in the wider carbon-fibre arches.

The TORNADO’s overall width is increased to 2.05m. The steel structure of the tailgate is mated to a new carbon-fibre skin, which re-contours it and covers the recesses and holes provided for the inner half of the factory tail light assemblies. The new, stacked round rear light design completely changes the look of the Cayenne’s rear, reinforcing the four individual round exhaust outlets, a long-standing GEMBALLA design motif. If the angels are in the details, a close inspection of the GEMBALLA badge on the new tailgate reveals lettering cut out with incredible precision. Here, the same ultra high-pressure water jet cutting process used in the electronics industry to slice through heat sensitive circuit boards, is used to cut the GEMBALLA name out of a piece of carbon-fibre. The brushed stainless steel panel below provides the silver colouring.

The enlarged wheel arches are filled by huge wheels, 10.0J x 22-inch with 295/35 ZR22 tyres on the front axle, and 12.0J x 22-inch with 335/30 ZR22 tyres at the rear. Despite their greater size, these forged, ultra-light and strong monoblock alloys are no heavier than the standard 20-inch wheels. And thanks to their narrow-spoke design, they appear to be even larger in diameter than they actually are. The uprated braking system is made by Brembo, GEMBALLA’s partner for brake component development. Massive 420 mm vented discs with six-pot callipers are used at the front, with 405 mm vented discs and four-pot callipers at the rear. All four discs are cross-drilled and slotted, and made exclusively for GEMBALLA in these sizes. GEMBALLA already offers a Stage One Cayenne Turbo engine conversion with 580 hp. The TORNADO will be equipped with Stage Two, which is nearing its final development stage. The goal for the engineers was well defined, a 35-40% power increase, which equates to between 675 and 700 hp. The projected torque increase of 30%, or close to 1,000 Nm, requires the relevant drivetrain components to be uprated as well. As with all GEMBALLA cars, the interior will be equally special, and the engineers and trim specialists are developing a completely new design for the TORNADO’s cabin. This will be characterised by both elegance and functionality. The GEMBALLA TORNADO celebrates the 30th year of the GEMBALLA brand in 2011.

Only 30 numbered GEMBALLA TORNADO cars will be built, making this a very special and exclusive model.