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2006. That’s the year Porsche finally introduced a production model with an output exceeding 500 horsepower. In the two decades preceding, Porsche had offered many impressive cars, all 50 hp or so shy of 500 hp, such as the Porsche 959.

You’d think the first car in Porsche’s history to cross that 500-hp mark would’ve been a hardcore offshoot of the 911. Instead, Porsche’s first production car to have an output exceeding 500 horsepower was the Porsche Cayenne, specifically the Turbo S variant, which debuted in 2006, just in time to surpass the 997-generation GT2.

Porsche’s Saving Grace Gains Twin-Turbocharged Fury

Alongside the Porsche Boxster, the Porsche Cayenne SUV was the company’s saving grace following a decade of financial struggles. When it debuted, the reception to the new SUV on the block was mixed, but it would be remembered as one of the earliest and most notable performance SUVs. It offered the practicality of an SUV, which proved to be a lucrative move for Porsche, a German multitool. This was enhanced by the fact that it provided commendable road holding and was powered by a range of impressive engines.

A 3.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, which offered 340 hp and could complete a sprint from standstill to 60 mph in less than seven seconds, was the first taste of the Porsche Cayenne. This engine is nowhere near what the current range-topping model is capable of, but it was impressive for the time. Still, this was far from the first-generation Cayenne’s performance potential, evident when Porsche introduced the Turbo S in 2006. Compared to the pioneering model, the Turbo S relied on a larger V8 engine, which was boosted to over 500 hp through two turbochargers and a series of modifications to the base engine.

Power was sent to all four corners via Porsche’s permanent four-wheel-drive system, which was assisted by the Porsche Traction Management system, which split the power distribution 62/38. The sporty SUV was equipped with a suspension system featuring an active damper and a fully controlled self-leveling system, which significantly contributed to its poise and handling.

What Porsche’s First 500-hp Production Model Costs Today

According to Classic.com, the average selling price of the 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is $21,129, which starkly contrasts with its original $79,000 MSRP. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S has achieved considerable success on the used car market. An example of a 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S with 97,000 miles and completely stock, sold for $16,600 a few weeks ago (May 2025). Another example of the 2006 model year, with 139,000 miles and in original condition, was sold at the start of March for $10,750—meanwhile, another vehicle with almost the same mileage sold for $11,000.

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Some examples of the 2006 model year with higher mileage, such as one with 185,000 miles, sold for an astonishingly low $7,875. Typically, listings on Classic.com for the 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S sell for roughly $20,000–$29,000, depending on mileage and condition. Interestingly, a custom-built example with the famed Porsche Pink Pig livery sold for $65,000, although a slew of hardware upgrades justified that price tag, making it a better off-road warrior. However, it’s worth noting that the first generation doesn’t have the best reliability of all the Porsche Cayenne generations.

Its Successor Demands More

The 4.5-liter V8-powered Porsche Cayenne Turbo S was only kept in service for a year before it was replaced. Porsche introduced an update for the Cayenne Turbo S in 2008, featuring a new, larger 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with direct fuel injection. This larger engine increased the power output of the Cayenne Turbo S, albeit by a slight margin. Its 0-60 mph sprint improved to 4.9 seconds, which was the result of improved power delivery, quicker shifts, and the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system.

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It was the range-topping offering for Porsche’s first-generation SUV, and the replacement retained its position in the model hierarchy. For that range-topping SUV, Classic.com states that the average selling price of the 957-gen Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is $30,369. An example of the 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S with 120,000 miles and in original condition sold earlier this year for $15,000. A low-mileage SUV from 2009, with only 55,000 miles, sold for $30,000 in February, despite being modified. Another example of the Cayenne Turbo S, even in stock form with some wear, sold for $15,000, despite having nearly 180,000 miles on the odometer.

Technically, It Wasn’t The First

If we’re talking about the first Porsche to wield an output of 500 horsepower or higher, then the honor goes to Porsche’s only V10-powered car: the Porsche Carrera GT. Infamous for its numerous incidents, most notably Paul Walker’s fatal crash, the Porsche Carrera GT was a notable supercar and a contender for the best sports cars of the 2000s. Its performance even holds up today, more than two decades since its debut.

For that performance and the status and gravitas that the Carrera GT commands, finding one on the used market is hard. Even if you do find one, be prepared to pay at least $1.4 million. That’s according to Classic.com’s estimates of the average selling price of the Porsche Carrera GT. Hagerty’s valuation tool indicates that the price of a used Porsche Carrera GT is approximately $1 million for a vehicle in decent condition. In comparison, a model worthy of Concours d’Elegance is valued at around $2 million.

Sources: Porsche, Classic.com, BringATrailer