A manual gearbox serves as the standard transmission system on the base Cayenne, with all other models featuring an eight-speed Tiptronic as standard equipment. The low-range transfer case found in the previous generation has been removed. All vehicles will feature about 10% less weight than their predecessors, 70 kg worth of standard equipment in excess of that found on the current model and a more heavily contoured rear bench.
The Cayenne comes powered by a 3.6-L VR6 engine producing 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp), the Cayenne S features the same 4.8-L V8 in the Panamera S models producing 400 PS (294 kW; 395 hp) and the Cayenne Turbo comes with Panamera Turbo's 4.8-L twin turbo V8 producing 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp). The Cayenne S Hybrid uses an Volkswagen-sourced 3.0-L V6 engine producing 333 PS (245 kW; 328 hp) paired with a nickel metal hydride battery capable of 47 PS (35 kW; 46 hp) for a total of 380 PS (279 kW; 375 hp).