Drift-Ready Porsche Cayenne: Supercharged V8 Power And Rear-Wheel Drive

The Porsche Cayenne has established a reputation as the SUV that saved Porsche and set records at the Nürburgring, but a Cayenne drift car is a unique sight. Now that’s something you don’t see every day. Even more surprising is the engine under the hood of this particular build—a GM LS2 V8, a move sure to unsettle Porsche purists.

Larry Chen featured this bold transformation on his YouTube channel, showcasing a first-generation Cayenne transformed into a drift machine. Vasili, from Toronto, is the mastermind behind this project, with help from TSH Auto. What started three years ago as a first-gen Cayenne with a blown engine has become a beastly drift car.

Ditching the Porsche powerplant, Vasili opted for a supercharged 6.0-liter LS2 V8, pushing 530 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque. While the choice might make purists cringe, the performance numbers are nothing to scoff at. Vasili didn’t just stop at an engine swap. He also converted the Cayenne from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive—essential for any drift build. Remarkably, the original rear differential and axle remain, along with the factory front brake calipers.

The Porsche Cayenne’s stance has been dramatically lowered by 9 inches, with custom suspension work and steering angle modifications handled by Josiah from FDF R Shop. One of the quirks of this build is the set of massive 22-inch wheels, an unusual choice for drifting but likely necessary given how low the Cayenne sits. Hiding behind the rear wheels are Wilwood brake calipers, connected to a hydraulic handbrake to help the Cayenne slide its way around the track.

Inside, this drift-ready Cayenne retains much of its original luxury, seating four with a full interior, including the original door panels. However, it’s not all stock—front seats from a Bentley with five-point harnesses make for a unique mashup, and it even has a full sound system, perfect for post-drift celebrations. Despite all these wild modifications, this Porsche Cayenne drift car is fully street-legal and still sports its license plates.

Although Vasili didn’t reveal the total cost of this one-of-a-kind build, it’s safe to say that a project this ambitious involved plenty of custom fabrication and experimentation.