Filed under: Motorsports, SUVs, Porsche
Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia: factory-built rally machine
Click image for 15-shot photo gallery
Last year, a pair of series-built Porsche Cayennes that were further modified by the customers who purchased them drove to victory in the 10,000km-long Transsyberia Rally. Spurred on by the success shown by those two cars, Porsche has built a small production run of at least twenty-six 2007 Cayenne S Transsyberia SUVs, all of which will compete in the 2007 rally. The full range of Porsche's techno-enhancements are in place, including Porsche Traction Management (PTM), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDDC), and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). The PTM system is further enhanced by a transverse lock from the optional Offroad Technology Package available to regular customers, and the PDCC system is already set up with a Special Offroad Mode, which, when active, lets the Cayenne ford bodies of water up to 30" deep. A roof-mounted snorkel keeps that water from invading the intake manifold.
Thanks to Tom L. for the tip!
[Source: Porsche]
Gallery: Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia
The 4.8L V8 makes 385 horsepower and is connected to a six-speed Tiptronic S with a 4.11 final drive ratio. Rally car-specific modifications include:
- Reinforced A and B pillars
- Bolted-in safety cage
- Stronger underbody protection
- Installation of a handbrake in lieu of the standard, foot-operated parking brake
- Rerouted electrical system
- Passenger-operated navigation computer
- Lightweight sport exhaust
- Offroad tires
- Roof lights
- Front-mounted winch
- Stripped interior, with dual spare wheels & tires and two reserve fuel cannisters in place of the rear seat
The 2007 Transsyberia Rally runs from August 2 - 17. The route starts in Moscow, crosses Siberia, and ends in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, covering over 6,600 kilometers along the way. Full info on the rally and the special Cayenne S Transsyberia can be found at the dedicated minisite Porsche has set up.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aprime 5:42PM (4/15/2007)
... Oh come on.
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Mr. Red 5:51PM (4/15/2007)
Concept is nice, but they are the last ones on earth who should be making a "rally" leave it to a japanese automaker, they do it better.
http://www.bunedbytheman.com
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m 7:06PM (4/15/2007)
Oh you guys cant be serious. This is one Bad AZZ vehicle. I want one! And no the Japs cant run a Syberian rally to save their lives. Get a clue Dude!
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Phil 7:44PM (4/15/2007)
#2, maybe you've never heard or just forgot the 1986 1-2 finish by the 959 in the Paris- Dakar Rally. SUV's are better suited as rally vehicles than sportcars.
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ruggels 9:14PM (4/15/2007)
shh phil that never happened, and porsche's lead test driver never made the word quattro synonymous with rally victory, psch what would they know :).
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Tom.L. 9:16PM (4/15/2007)
You ´re welcome.
I can´t wait to find one of these on Ebay.
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Adam Singer 11:19PM (4/15/2007)
This is the first and last Cayenne that will ever sport a snorkle!
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Dylan 11:47PM (4/15/2007)
Thats just stupid.
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Nick 4:32AM (4/16/2007)
SUV's make better paris-dakar and transsiberian rally cars- they would get annihilated by WRC cars in a WRC event (if they were to compete on the same course, which they don't). Just as WRC cars are not well suited for transcontinental rallies, suv's would not be able to run a special stage in the WRC very well.
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retsel 4:55AM (4/16/2007)
I want one in red and black...
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Nick 7:06AM (4/16/2007)
This is what most think Porsche should have done in the first place. They were so LATE to the sporty SUV market, it's rather pathetic. Well, they were late to the SUV market, period. They should have built a bad ass off-road vehicle to take the Porsche name beyond sports cars. To me, the Cayenne is just another heavy, large car.
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David S. 10:48AM (4/16/2007)
Transsyberia 6-5000...
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Todd 11:13AM (4/16/2007)
I think Porsche should make a rally-ready 997 turbo with those big mud flaps, jacked up suspension, and knobby tires, just like they did with the 959. I'd like to have one.
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Snark 11:43AM (4/16/2007)
"They should have built a bad ass off-road vehicle to take the Porsche name beyond sports cars."
Love them or hate them - and I hate them - Cayennes are incredibly offroad capable, even in showroom stock trim. They were tested in the worst conditions imaginable, and are equipped with low range 4WD, lots of clearance, good articulation, and are modified for wading and inclines. So, Nick, they already DID make a badass offroad machine, you just appear to be totally ignorant of it - and they also handle reasonably well on pavement. You may wish to familiarize yourself with your topic if you're planning on criticizing it.
Now, they may be driven mostly by suburban mothers with too much disposable income and vanity, and most of them will never use their offroad capability in the slightest - but it is there. The Cayennes that won the previous Transsyberia were essentially bone stock except for different tires, roll cages, and a removed rear seat, and they kicked serious ass.
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Jens 6:11AM (3/27/2009)
hahahaha. http://www.twenga.de
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