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Porsche prepares for 2008 Transsyberia Rally

Porsche prepares for 2008 Transsyberia Rally

Viknesh Vijayenthiran April 6th, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author April 6th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 Porsche has announced plans to enter this year’s Transsyberia Rally, an epic journey that sees competitors travel more than 6,200km through the roughs of Siberia. Last year, Porsche took the top three places in the event and to make sure it remains on top the sports carmaker has developed a number of modifications for its Cayenne S Transsyberia rally-SUV. Engineers focused on improving the suspension set-up of the previous model, and added a number of reinforced parts including a newly-formed sump-guard, new front and rear panels, custom BFGoodrich all-terrain tires and a recalibrated air suspension system. The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia still retains its sturdy roll-cage, twin bucket seats and six-point harnesses for driver and co-driver. The standard 4.8L normally-aspirated engine with direct fuel injection delivers 385hp (283 kW) and is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with a shorter final drive ratio than the regular Cayenne S. The SUV also features a weight-reduced sports exhaust system. Like all other models in the Cayenne range, the Cayenne S Transsyberia features Porsche’s permanent AWD system, which feeds 62% of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels and 38% to the front. If slip is detected, the multiple-plate clutch, operated by an electric motor and controlled electronically, varies the distribution of power as a function of driving conditions and can send up to 100% of the engine’s power to either axle. This year’s event will take place on the 11th of July and will once again travel from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.
Porsche prepares for 2008 Transsyberia Rally

Porsche prepares for 2008 Transsyberia Rally

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Porsche has announced plans to enter this year’s Transsyberia Rally, an epic journey that sees competitors travel more than 6,200km through the roughs of Siberia. Last year, Porsche took the top three places in the event and to make sure it remains on top the sports carmaker has developed a number of modifications for its Cayenne S Transsyberia rally-SUV.

Engineers focused on improving the suspension set-up of the previous model, and added a number of reinforced parts including a newly-formed sump-guard, new front and rear panels, custom BFGoodrich all-terrain tires and a recalibrated air suspension system.

The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia still retains its sturdy roll-cage, twin bucket seats and six-point harnesses for driver and co-driver. The standard 4.8L normally-aspirated engine with direct fuel injection delivers 385hp (283 kW) and is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with a shorter final drive ratio than the regular Cayenne S. The SUV also features a weight-reduced sports exhaust system.

Like all other models in the Cayenne range, the Cayenne S Transsyberia features Porsche’s permanent AWD system, which feeds 62% of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels and 38% to the front. If slip is detected, the multiple-plate clutch, operated by an electric motor and controlled electronically, varies the distribution of power as a function of driving conditions and can send up to 100% of the engine’s power to either axle.

This year’s event will take place on the 11th of July and will once again travel from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

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Posted in: Porsche, News, SUVs


Comments (12 total)

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  1. By Raptor #1, Posted: 4/6/2008

    I generally think Cayenne is one ugly piece of s..t, but this one looks kinda cool.

    Lets see how it performs. Last time Germans went to Russia in '41 everything they had broke down :D

  2. By cj #2, Posted: 4/6/2008

    why not usea turbo though? most powerrful suv in the world is it not?

  3. By Gus #3, Posted: 4/6/2008

    Oh man, the '41 comment was spot-on... :)

    But I think the turbo is too much power and complexity for something like this.

    Amazing vehicle, no doubt, and you see hundreds of them here in snobby Newport Beach, California, but I just don't like them. They seem like the ultimate compromise machine, great at all things, excellent at none...

  4. By cj #4, Posted: 4/6/2008

    I used to have a turbo S and it was fantastic and the new turbo is even faster but I'm driving round in an RX400h atm to pretend to be green, want to get it lpg'd but two places say they can't do it....surely the power if what you want in this sort of thing though especially torque which it has, and lots of it

  5. By SuperSkyline89 #5, Posted: 4/6/2008

    Why bother pretending to be green? Why not just tell the tree huggers to shove it? If you genuinely want to be green then that's good for you but is there really any point in pretending? We all know that Lexus hybrids are just smart marketing and nothing else anyways.

  6. By Wizards Lore #6, Posted: 4/6/2008

    The Cayenne turbo is the fastest "off the shelf" 4x4 in the world....but the VW Tourag TT Diesel V10 is the most powerful...

  7. By Gus #7, Posted: 4/6/2008

    Yeah, if I wanted to cross Siberia, I'd take the Toureg diesel.
    Mountains of torque, better economy, and probably runs on anything, including fryer oil...

  8. By elclair #8, Posted: 4/7/2008

    Raptor...in case you're struggling to read, Porsche have been to Russia the last two years with the Cayenne and won the event both times. :)

  9. By Raptor #9, Posted: 4/7/2008

    I know but I had to mention it :)

  10. By HECTOR #10, Posted: 4/7/2008

    If I wanted to cross Siberia I'd take either a Range Rover or a Land Rover. Probably the latter since breaking down in that place means death for sure.

  11. By HECTOR #11, Posted: 4/7/2008

    Sorry, I meant *or a Land Cruiser* (you know, Toyota reliability and all...)

  12. By Jesse #12, Posted: 4/8/2008

    Um... I thought Jeep were claiming fastest SUV in the world with Grand Cherokee SRT8???

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