Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia - from Moscow to Mongolia

The Porsche Cayenne S ‘Transsyberia‘ has been developed to compete in the 2007 Transsyberia Rallye, a gruelling driving challenge that will take contestants from Moscow all the way through Siberia to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia from 2-17 August.

Last year two private teams participated in the Transsyberia Rallye for the first time with the Porsche Cayenne S, finishing first and second in their very first attempt. Attracted by the successful participation of these two cars, Porsche now offers Cayenne drivers the option to enter motor­sport successfully with this outstanding model.

The Porsche Cayenne is well-known and admired for its outstanding combination of on-road dynamics and off-road ability. The recently-introduced second generation Cayenne moves this benchmark to an even higher standard. New power units with direct petrol injection, for example, provide even more power and performance on less fuel, cutting fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent versus the for­mer models.

Another highlight is the new Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) featuring two active anti-­roll bars to almost completely eliminate body sway when cornering. The PDCC delivers maximum axle articulation when driving off-road, serving to further improve the already superior traction offered by the electronically controlled all-wheel drive.

For the Transsyberia vehicle, Porsche has enhanced the already excellent off-­road qualities of the Cayenne to an even higher standard, developing a special model sui­ted particularly for successful participation in long-distance rallies. The Cayenne S Transsyberia, which is being built in a small series of just 26 units, comes with specific all-terrain tyres, a safety roll cage, a shorter transmission final drive ratio, a transverse differential lock, a larger reinforced underbody skidplate, and strengthened track control arms on the front axle. At 385bhp (283kW), engine output of the eight-cylinder re­mains unchanged.

One of the last adventures in the world on four wheels – the Transsyberia Rallye
From 2-17 August, competitors will be following the route of this very demanding orientation rally from Moscow all the way through Siberia to the finish line in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. In all, they will be covering over 4,000 miles on public roads, gravel tracks and the toughest trail paths, even crossing rivers and taking special tests in the Gobi Desert. And while navigation is perhaps the biggest challenge on the long stages of the Rallye, it is the driver's personal skill and, of course, the qualities of the car that count in the special trials on tracks closed to the public. The Transsyberia Rallye is split into six categories of vehicles, with the Cayenne S Trans­syberia featuring a 4.8-litre V8 entering the race in Class 1C for petrol-powered passenger cars with engine capacity of more than four litres.

Twenty-Six Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberias Line Up
With its intelligent all-wheel drive, high-performance and efficient V8 direct-injection power unit, as well as height-adjustable air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Manage­ment (PASM), the Porsche Cayenne S is perfectly prepared for even the toughest roads and tracks.

Following the outstanding success of the Cayenne on the event last year, 26 customer teams from all over the world are entering the 2007 Rallye with this special version of the Cayenne S.

The Sporting All-Round Performer
The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia is a typical Porsche through and through, tailored precisely to the needs and requirements of the sporting, ambitious customer – which in this case means a car tailored specifically to the requirements of long-distance rally racing.

Compared with the “regular" version of the Cayenne S, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia as a special rally version has been modified on a number of points serving first and fore­most to enhance safety and the car's racing performance.

Production Engine, Shorter Transmission Ratio
The power unit of the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia has been carried over from the re­gular road version of the Cayenne S with hardly any changes. Output of this 4.8-litre naturally-­aspirated V8 with direct petrol injection remains 385bhp (283 kW) at 6,200 rpm. Maxi­mum torque of 500Nm or 369 lb-ft, in turn, comes at just 3,500 rpm.

VarioCam Plus valve management ensures a smooth and consistent surge of power through­out the entire speed range, with engine management varying valve lift on the intake side between 3.6mm and 10mm as a function of engine speed. And with the intake manifold also being variable in length, the engine provides muscular torque right from the start even at low engine speeds. Despite the increase in power over the previous engine, the new 4.8-litre reduces fuel consumption by approximately 15 per cent, giving the Cayenne S a significantly longer cruising range than before – obviously a big advantage particularly in a long-distance rally.

Automatically detecting the quality of the fuel it is running on, the engine is also able to run on regular fuel with an octane rating of 91 or more, even though this can reduce both en­gine output and torque. In fact, the engine is also able to run on a mixture of petrol and ethanol, with up to 25 per cent of the latter.

A sports exhaust system reduced for minimum weight gives the Cayenne S Transsyberia a particularly powerful and muscular sound, while Tiptronic S transmission with a shorter final drive ratio helps to ensure even better acceleration both from the start and in gears. And last but not least, the transmission management has been optimised for off-road use of the vehicle.

Even Better off the Beaten Track
Like all other models in the Cayenne range, the Cayenne S Transsyberia also comes with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanent all-wheel drive. In its basic mode, PTM feeds 62 per cent of the engine's torque to the rear wheels and 38 per cent to the front. An electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch is able to vary the distribution of power as a function of driving con­di­tions, if necessary feeding as much as 100 per cent of the engine's power completely to the front or rear. The centre differential locks respond not only to lack of traction on the front or rear wheels, but also have sensors measu­ring the speed of the vehicle, its lateral acceleration, the steering angle and the position of the accelerator pedal.

Using this information, PTM is able to consistently calculate the degree of lock required on the two axles and feed precisely the power required to the axle at the front and rear. A rear differential lock fitted additionally in the Cayenne S Transsyberia serves to enhance off­road driving qualities to an even higher standard (and is also available in the regular pro­duction model as part of the optional Offroad Technology Package).

Reinforced and extra-large underfloor protection panels made of aluminium and an additio­nal cover made of stainless steel for the exhaust tailpipes protect the Cayenne S Transsyberia from the particular damage and exposure easily encountered on a rally with its extremely tough conditions.

Porsche Active Suspension Management and Dynamic Chassis Control
Particularly in heavy terrain, PDDC Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control - interacting with air suspension and PASM Porsche Active Suspension Management - enhances traction to an even higher standard. And should the driver activate the low-range mode on the six-speed automatic transmission by means of the control switch, PDCC will automatically switch over to the off-road mode, the system thus allowing maximum articulation of the axles.

In the Special Off-road Mode provided by the air suspension, the maximum depth when crossing rivers and streams, etc, is approximately 75cm. To make such an extreme depth possible, both the body and the doors are sealed off against the penetration of water all the way up to the side windows. And using a flexible air filter snorkel, the air intake has been moved up even further to the roof of the vehicle, ensuring that the bow wave typical when crossing water is not able to reach, let alone enter, the engine air intake manifold.

The wheels and suspension of the Cayenne have also been modified for the most extreme, long-term demands of rough tracks and rocky surfaces. As an example, the double-­arm front axle comes with reinforced track control arms, with the track itself increased by 34mm for extra stability.

The tyres are specific off-road examples measuring 255/55 R 18 T and homologated for speeds of up to 190 km/h or 118 mph. The tyres themselves are fitted on 18-inch, 15-spoke Cayenne S II light-alloy wheels and the rim hubs are finished in orange.

Massive Safety Cell within the Interior
It is recognised that the Porsche Cayenne ranks right at the top in its market segment in terms of body stiffness and passive safety – no surprise, considering that more than 60 per cent of the body-in-white is made of high-strength steel. To offer both the driver and passenger further protection from the consequences of a collision or roll-over under racing conditions, the Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with a safety cage bolted on to the passenger cell. Indeed, this cage even follows the rules and requirements of the FIA Motorsport Authority, with the driver also being protected by an air­bag for extra safety.

Optimised for Minimum Weight All Round
To off-set the extra weight of the safety cage and rally equipment, and to further lower the vehicle's centre of gravity, the rear seat bench, interior body panels and sound-proofing material have all been removed from the car. Central locking, in turn, is replaced by a manual door opening mechanism on the front doors. Both the rear window and the rear side windows are made of light polycarbonate, while the side windows at the front, as on all Cayenne models, feature special hydrophobic treat­ment at the outside to make water run off more quickly and smoothly, ensuring that the windows remain cleaner for longer than with conventional glass.

Sporting Exterior
On the tailgate the Cayenne S Transsyberia has a roof spoiler with a double-wing profile to provide even greater stability at high speeds. The front and rear air aprons, in turn, are finished in stainless steel, and orange-coloured wheels give the Cayenne S Transsyberia a sporting look, making the vehicle easily recognisable.

The Cayenne S Transsyberia is available exclusively in two special colour schemes – either Basalt Black Metallic or Crystal Silver Metallic. And matching the model designation at the sides as well as the wheel rims, contrasting elements such as the exterior mirrors, the rear wing, the additional headlights and crossbars on the cooling air intakes are all finished in orange.

Wide Range of Rally Equipment
All 26 examples of the Cayenne S Transsyberia are fitted with a GPS navigation unit as standard enabling the team to plan their routes when off-road, with the system naturally being masterminded by the passenger for optimum efficiency. The glove compartment is replaced on this model by a Tripmaster computer enabling the co-pilot to scrutinize the route in detail between individual navigation points on the way.

Most of the control units are fitted within the interior, and all electric cables have been installed at new points and in new positions. Using a central switch at the right beneath the driver's seat, the driver or passenger are able to switch the on-board electrics on and off in one quick and convenient operation, thus re-setting the electronic system if necessary even while driving.

The regular foot-operated parking brake is replaced by a handbrake, to enable extreme maneouvres. Four additional headlights are fitted on the roof, and to successfully master particularly difficult and demanding terrain, the Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with a winch easy to fit when necessary and stored for convenient use in the luggage compartment.

The luggage compartment also comes with two 20-litre reserve fuel cans, a hydraulic off-road car jack, two fire extinguishers, two sand boards, two full-size spare wheels, and two trans­port boxes for tools. Further features included as standard are two two-man tents, two heat-­insulated mats, four tie-down straps, a nine-metre-long salvage belt complete with tackle, a folding spade, a folding saw, an axe, a manually operated and adjustable spotlamp, four towing eyes and a complete Hazet toolkit.