Porsche will again contest the Transsyberia Rally this year. Already at its debut in 2007, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia proved its speed and excellent offroad qualities on the way from Moscow to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Three Cayenne S Transsyberia finished in the top three positions. For this year’s edition of the Transsyberia Rally from 11th to 25th July, Porsche optimised the small series in several areas. The modified components are offered to customer teams around the world as a conversion kit.
In the modifications to the Cayenne S Transsyberia, primary importance was given to further improving the offroad capabilities and optimising the suspension set-up. The 2008-spec of the successful long distance racer features a stronger and newly-formed sump-guard. The front and rear panels were modified to allow a larger angle of driving slope. An all-terrain offroad tyre from BFGoodrich in the 265/65 R18 R dimension increases the ground clearance by 30 millimetres. Compared to last year, the higher and stronger side walls offer better protection against tyre damage. The air suspension was retuned based on the experiences of the 2007 Transsyberia Rally. The standard shock absorbers were replaced with special rally shocks. Particularly on the fast, bumpy sections, the vehicle’s handling is substantially smoother than the 2007 version. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), which features two active anti-roll bars to almost completely eliminate body sway in bends, was adapted to withstand the special demands of a marathon rally.
The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia is equipped with a massive safety cage, with two bucket seats and six-point harnesses for driver and co-driver. The standard 4.8-litre normally-aspirated engine with direct fuel injection delivers 385 hp (283 kW). The weight-reduced sports exhaust system gives the Cayenne S Transsyberia a particularly powerful sound. For optimal acceleration, the six-speed automatic gearbox of the Cayenne S was combined with shorter final drive ratio of the Cayenne GTS. The transmission management was taken from the standard model and optimised for all-terrain purposes.
Like all other models in the Cayenne range, the Cayenne S Transsyberia features the permanent all-wheel-drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM), which feeds 62 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels and 38 percent to the front. The multiple-plate clutch, operated by an electric motor and controlled electronically, varies the distribution of power as a function of driving conditions, if necessary feeding as much as 100 percent of the engine’s power completely to the front or rear. The map-controlled longitudinal lock and the differential lock on the rear axle respond not only to lack of traction on the front or rear wheels, but also benefit from sensors measuring the speed of the vehicle, its lateral acceleration, the steering angle and the position of the accelerator pedal. In this way, PTM is able to consistently calculate the degree of lock required on the two axles and distribute the power required to the axles. The PTM software underwent optimisation compared to its 2007 predecessor. A fitted transverse lock further enhances the offroad capabilities of the Cayenne S Transsyberia and is also available in the standard model as part of the optional Offroad Technology Package.
All Cayenne S Transsyberia are fitted, as standard equipment, with a navigation system that also enables teams to plan their route offroad and is controlled by the co-driver. Additionally, the glove compartment is replaced with a Tripmaster computer enabling the co-pilot to exactly scrutinize the route between navigation points. All of the control units are positioned within the water-tight interior, and all electric lines and wires have been installed in new positions. To prevent water from entering the car, the body and doors have been sealed up to the height of the side windows. The maximum depth when crossing rivers and streams is approximately 78 centimetres or almost 31”.
The air intake for the engine is positioned above the hood. With a snorkel the air intake can be moved to roof height, ensuring that the front wave generated when crossing water is not able to enter the intake manifold. The regular foot-operated parking brake is replaced by a handbrake enabling the driver to intentionally oversteer the vehicle in a tight bend. Four additional headlights are mounted on the roof. For particularly difficult terrain and to assist in salvaging other vehicles, the Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with a winch easy to fit when needed and stored in the luggage compartment.
As standard equipment, the vehicle includes two fire extinguishers, two sandbags, two full-size spare wheels, and two transport boxes for tools. Also included are two two-man tents, two heat-insulated blankets, four lashing belts, a nine-metre long salvage belt complete with tackle, a folding spade, a folding saw, an axe, a manually operated and adjustable headlamp, four towing bar openings and a Hazet toolkit.
Technical Description Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia 2008
Bodyshell:
Monocoque, lightweight all-steel bodyshell hot galvanised on both sides; safety cage bolted
into position; full¬-size airbag for the driver; two bucket race seats; six-point harness.
Power Unit:
Eight-cylinder power unit in V-arrangement with aluminium crankcase and aluminium cylinder
head; direct gasoline injection (DFI); integrated dry sump lubrication; four overhead
camshafts; four valves per cylinder; valve timing variable on the intake side and valve lift
adjustment (VarioCam Plus); oscillating tube turbocharger; two-chamber sports exhaust
system with a three-way catalytic converter (pre and main catalyst) on each side; engine
management SDI 4.1; electronic ignition with eight active individual spark ignition modules;
E-gas.
Bore:
96 mm (3.78”)
Stroke:
83 mm (3.27”)
Capacity:
4,806 cc
Compression ratio:
12.5:1
Engine Output:
283 kW (385 bhp) at 6200 rpm
Max. Torque:
500 Nm (369 lb-ft) at 3500 rpm
Output per litre:
58.9 kW (80.1 bhp)
Max Engine Speed:
6700 rpm
Fuel Grade:
Premium Plus (RON/MON 98/88) unleaded. Engine able to run on fuel with 91 octane and
more, with a certain amount of loss on output and torque. Addition of up to 25% ethanol
possible.
Electrical System:
12 V, three-phase 2660 W alternator, battery capacity 95 Ah
Power Transmission:
Engine and gearbox bolted together to form one drive unit; power conveyed permanently to
all four wheels by means of a power divider (integrated low-range gear); basic power
distribution (rear axle: 62 per cent; front axle: 38 per cent) variable by means of multiple-plate
clutch; Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with longitudinal and lateral dynamic control
through automatic intervention in engine management and brake system. Electronically
controlled rear axle differential lock.
Gear ratios/ Tiptronic S
1st gear: 4.15
2nd gear: 2.37
3rd gear: 1.56
4th gear: 1.16
5th gear: 0.86
6th gear: 0.69
Reverse: 3.39
Low-range gear: 2.70
Final drive: 4.11
Chassis and Suspension:
Front: double track arm with subframe (spheroidal-cast track arm at the bottom; aluminium track
arm at the top); independent suspension with reinforced tie-bar;
Rear:
Multi-arm axle with subframe (steel plate track arm at the bottom, aluminium track arm at the top);
independent suspension. Full-load air spring struts on both axles with integrated dampers;
special rally shock absorbers. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC): Active anti-roll bars
front and rear.
Brakes:
Two-circuit brake system; six-piston aluminium monobloc callipers at the front and four
piston monobloc brake callipers at the rear; inner-vented brake discs front and rear; ABS;
vacuum brake servo.
Wheels and Tyres:
8 J x 18 with 265/65 R 18 R (BFGoodrich)
Dimensions:
Length
4798 mm
Width
1928 mm
Height
1783 mm
Wheelbase
2855 mm
Tank capacity
100 litres (22 lmp gals)
Performance:
Top speed: 170 kph (limited by tyres)
Acceleration:*
0 – 100 kph in sec.: 6.8
0 – 160 kph in sec.: 15.7
Standing-start km: 26.8
Fuel consumption:*
(EU standard) :
13.7 litres
CO2-emissions*
(EU standard):
Overall
329 g/km
Emission category
Euro 4 / ULEV
