Autoblog

Click above for a gallery of the updated Cayenne S Transsyberia

Last year, Porsche built a series of race-ready Cayenne S Transsyberia SUVs for use in the rally event bearing the same name. Lessons were learned, and so for the 2008 running of the Transsyberia, Porsche is offering the teams who bought the trucks last year a conversion package that features a number of upgrades. These include a new sump guard, a beefier tire package, tweaked air suspension, a shorter final drive ratio (same as the new Cayenne GTS), plus updates to the transmission programming, dynamic chassis control and traction management systems. Driving from Moscow to Mongolia is no picnic, and these upgrades should make the already-robust Cayenne S Transsyberia even better-suited to handle the rough-and-tumble 4,400-mile course. You can check out the full specs after the jump, and see last year's post on the truck's unveiling for a peek at many of the other modifications that came as part of the standard package.


[Source: Porsche]

Rod Millen has another trophy for the cabinet. Along with co-driver Richard Kelsey, he took first in the Rally Transsyberia which ran the 7,100 kilometers from Moscow, Russia to Ulan Bataar, Mongolia. As Team North America 2, they were driving one of 26 special Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia rally cars, which were factory-prepared with many of the mods privateers fitted to the SUV that won last year's edition.

Going against 21 other teams that included drivers like Walter Röhrl and Armin Schwartz, Millen and Kelsey had the race wrapped up before the last stage. The Cayenne S Transsyberia benefits from Porsche Traction Management with a transverse lock, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control with a Special Offroad Mode, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and a snorkel. Millen called it the greatest challenge of his motorsports career. Porsche took the top three places, and six of the top ten.

[Source: Porsche]

Click image for a photo gallery of the Cayenne S Transsyberia

Porsche recently held a 3-day training session for the drivers who'll be taking the automaker's 26 factory-prepared Cayenne S Transsyberias out rallying later this summer. The roster is sprinkled with drivers from various rally disciplines like Rod Millen, Armin Schwartz, René Metge, and Marc Coma, who will be among the other enthusiasts taking part in the 4,100-mile adventure.

The session, held at Porsche's off-road test area at Leipzig, let the drivers get acclimated to the cars, see how they handled various conditions, and brush up on their navigation and field repair skills. They'll need it, as the Transsyberia Rally course from Moscow to Mongolia is sure to bring its share of unexpected surprises along the way.

[Source: Porsche]

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]