---
title: "Porsche Cayenne Tows a 314-Ton Airbus A380 Jumbo Jet"
description: "Because nothing shows how tough your SUV is like exceeding its tow rating by 310 tons."
date: "2017-05-01"
modified: "2017-05-01"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/9816/porsche-cayenne-tows-a-314-ton-airbus-a380-jumbo-jet"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Porsche News"
tags:
  - "a380"
  - "Airbus"
  - "Cayenne"
  - "France"
  - "guinness world record"
  - "jumbo jet"
  - "luxury"
  - "paris"
  - "porsche"
  - "suv/crossover"
  - "towing"
---

# Porsche Cayenne Tows a 314-Ton Airbus A380 Jumbo Jet

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/05/porsche-plane-tow-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Manufacturer tow ratings—assigned by automakers to vehicles to give buyers an idea [how much they can lug around behind their car, truck, or SUV](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/4472/5-crazy-things-the-2017-ford-f-series-super-duty-can-tow>)—are calculated based on a wide variety of factors, such as engine power and gross vehicle weight. But they're designed as an upper limit for normal operation. Take things into a controlled environment and drive nice and slow, and many cars and trucks can haul loads many times greater than the number in the owner's manual.

The latest example: A Porsche Cayenne S Diesel has an official tow rating of around 7,700 pounds, but that didn't stop it from hauling [a 314-ton Airbus A380 jumbo jet](<https://www.thedrive.com/video/5190/ride-along-next-to-the-largest-airliner-in-the-world-as-it-takes-off-from-lax>) across roughly 140 feet of tarmac at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The double-decker's size means the Cayenne easily captured [a Guinness World Record](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/2011/meet-the-new-worlds-fastest-mobility-scooter>) for the heaviest aircraft ever pulled by a production car. And indeed, the Porsche-towed mass reportedly blew past the old record by 127 tons.

![message-editor%2F1493642105730-high\_cayenne\_turbo\_s\_air\_france\_a\_380\_paris\_charles\_de\_gaulle\_airport\_2017\_porsche\_ag-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493642105730-high_cayenne_turbo_s_air_france_a_380_paris_charles_de_gaulle_airport_2017_porsche_ag-1.jpg>)
**Porsche**

"Our cars can go a bit beyond what our customers might expect," Porsche GB technician Richard Payne said in a statement, in a textbook case of understatement. Payne added that the team had driven the Cayenne in question down from London that day for the test, and fully expected to drive it back.

![message-editor%2F1493642122884-high\_cayenne\_paris\_charles\_de\_gaulle\_airport\_2017\_porsche\_ag.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493642122884-high_cayenne_paris_charles_de_gaulle_airport_2017_porsche_ag.jpg>)
**Porsche**

Oh, and if you think this exercise was as much a testament to the power of diesel as anything else...Porsche also towed the Airbus with [a Cayenne Turbo S](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/4287/the-2017-porsche-cayenne-turbo-s-at-170-mph-finally-makes-sense>). Which, unlike the Cayenne S Diesel, you can buy right here in America.

![message-editor%2F1493642149704-high\_cayenne\_turbo\_s\_air\_france\_a\_380\_paris\_charles\_de\_gaulle\_airport\_2017\_porsche\_ag.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493642149704-high_cayenne_turbo_s_air_france_a_380_paris_charles_de_gaulle_airport_2017_porsche_ag.jpg>)
*Porsche*

![message-editor%2F1493642171566-high\_cayenne\_s\_diesel\_air\_france\_a\_380\_paris\_charles\_de\_gaulle\_airport\_2017\_porsche\_ag-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493642171566-high_cayenne_s_diesel_air_france_a_380_paris_charles_de_gaulle_airport_2017_porsche_ag-2.jpg>)
*Porsche*

![message-editor%2F1493642180495-high\_cayenne\_turbo\_s\_air\_france\_a\_380\_paris\_charles\_de\_gaulle\_airport\_2017\_porsche\_ag-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493642180495-high_cayenne_turbo_s_air_france_a_380_paris_charles_de_gaulle_airport_2017_porsche_ag-2.jpg>)
*Porsche*

![message-editor%2F1493642190805-high\_pravin\_patel\_adjudicator\_guinness\_world\_records\_richard\_payne\_porsche\_gb\_technician\_l\_r\_paris\_charles\_de\_gaulle\_airport\_2017\_porsche\_ag.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493642190805-high_pravin_patel_adjudicator_guinness_world_records_richard_payne_porsche_gb_technician_l_r_paris_charles_de_gaulle_airport_2017_porsche_ag.jpg>)
*Porsche*

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)