2015-2018 (958.2)
Porsche gave the second-generation Cayenne a substantial facelift for 2015, and one change stood out above the styling updates: the switch from all-wheel drive as a permanent, always-on system to one that sends power to the front axle only when the rear wheels need help, the same on-demand approach used on the 911. It was a deliberate move toward treating the Cayenne as more of a road car than an off-roader, paired with lower emissions and better fuel economy across the board.
The base Cayenne carried a 3.6-liter V6 at 300 hp, while the Cayenne S dropped its naturally aspirated V8 entirely in favor of a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 at 420 hp, more power with better efficiency. The GTS followed the same path, moving from its 420 hp naturally aspirated V8 to the S's twin-turbo V6 architecture tuned to 440 hp. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid became simply the E-Hybrid, adding a proper plug-in capability for the first time and identifiable by its bright yellow brake calipers, a Porsche hybrid tradition. The Turbo and Turbo S remained the sole V8 options in the lineup, both still displacing 4.8 liters with twin turbochargers relocated directly into the exhaust manifolds for sharper throttle response. The Turbo grew to 520 hp, and the Turbo S reached 570 hp for 2016, a version that lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:59.74, an SUV record at the time. The 8-speed Tiptronic automatic became the sole transmission across the entire 958.2 range, ending manual gearbox availability that had persisted through the 958.1 cars.
- Model years: 2015 to 2018 (958.2)
- Trims: Cayenne, Cayenne Diesel, Cayenne S, Cayenne S E-Hybrid, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Turbo S
- Power range: 300 hp (base) to 570 hp (Turbo S)
- Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic only, no manual offered
- Notable firsts: first Cayenne with on-demand (rather than permanent) all-wheel drive; first Cayenne S and GTS with a twin-turbo V6 in place of a V8; Turbo S set an SUV Nürburgring lap record at 7:59.74