The modern SUV has become the “car” of choice for most, and it’s not hard to fathom why. Seating room, cargo space, and the higher driving position are a given. Still, we think the growing popularity has more to do with how SUVs morphed from a standard, everyday vehicle to a high-performance machine capable of outrunning a sports car. And it does it while still having five to seven seats, sufficient cargo room, and the off-road smarts of its vintage predecessors.

After exploring the fastest production cars around the Green Hell, we now pay tribute to the fastest production SUVs around the Nürburgring.

#5. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

Time: 7:59.74Date Announced: 2015Fun Fact: The 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is the first production SUV to lap the Nürburgring in under eight minutes.
The first-gen Porsche Cayenne that debuted in 2003 was a bold effort by the German automaker. It drew flack for its 911-inspired styling, but the Cayenne was an instant hit with its sporty performance, premium cabin, and a potent lineup of powertrain options. The second-gen Cayenne arrived in 2011, bearing Carrera GT styling cues and plenty of functional performance.

Professional racecar driver Walter Röhrl, a man no stranger to achieving lap records in a Porsche, entered the record books again while piloting a 2016 Cayenne Turbo S. He lapped the Nürburgring in 7:59.74., making the Cayenne Turbo S the world?s first production SUV to circle the ?Ring in under ei...