Porsche Cayenne S 958.1 vs Porsche Cayman PDK 987: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Cayman PDK hits 100 km/h in 5.28 s versus 5.81 s for the Cayenne S. At this point, the Cayman PDK leads by 0.53 s and sits roughly 3 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Cayman PDK is doing 140 km/h against 133 km/h for the Cayenne S. The gap is 0.34 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Cayman PDK crosses the line in 13.38 s versus 13.99 s. The 0.61 s gap represents roughly 28 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the Cayman PDK continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 196 km/h versus 186 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Cayman PDK finishes in 24.10 s versus 25.30 s, with a 1.21 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (258 vs 262 km/h), preventing any comeback.

The Cayenne S features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Cayman PDK’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Electronically capped at 258 km/h, the Cayenne S never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.16 kg/hp vs 5.06 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.88 seconds. The 0.53 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.