Off-Roader

When you think Porsche, off-roaders are perhaps the last thing that comes to mind. But the German brand does have a rally-bred pedigree if we look back to the 911 and 959 Dakars from the 1980s. While purists may still scoff at their SUVs, models like the Cayenne and Macan which are household names today, were vital to Porsche’s survival. In fact, it is these very cash cows that have made cars like the iconic Carrera GT and 918 Spyder possible.

Remember the early 2000s? Back when flip phones were peak tech and Britney was rocking a shaved head? That’s also when Porsche dropped a bomb called the Cayenne. Sure, some folks scoffed – a Porsche SUV? But here’s the thing: the Cayenne, along with the Boxster, saved Porsche’s bacon. They were the volume sellers that funded glorious things like the Carrera GT. Plus, they practically invented the whole "sporty SUV" thing. (Yes, yes, I know the Lamborghini LM002 came first, but the Cayenne brought it mainstream.)

The Porsche Cayenne is a name synonymous with luxury and sportiness and, perhaps less so, off-road prowess. But what if we told you there’s a Cayenne that can tackle sand dunes with the same aplomb it tackles Rodeo Drive? While this might look like any other Cayenne to the average Joe, to the eagle-eyed amongst you, you know that this one is special. This, my friends, is the 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia that’s come up for sale on Bring-a-Trailer, is a ridiculously rare (only 285 made!) off-road-ready beast that’ll have you conquering sand dunes and carving up canyons in equal measure.

Picture this: It’s the early 2000s, and Porsche, the iconic sports carmaker, is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and the company took a gamble that would change everything. Enter the Cayenne, a sporty SUV that raised eyebrows and turned heads. Purists scoffed, but Porsche knew what they were doing. Porsche saw the potential in the SUV market, and three generations later, I’m glad to say that it paid off. Sharing its platform with the VW Tourage, the Cayenne wasn’t just a success; it was a lifeline, injecting much-needed cash into Porsche’s coffers and securing their future (if you didn’t know, it was the Cayenne’s success that fueled the development of the iconic Carrera GT).

Hold the phone on the Dubai supercar tours (been there done that already). Instead of some track-action, Porsche Experience has cooked up something way more my speed – Camp 911 Namibia. Forget pavement princesses and garage queens; this is about conquering Namibia’s lunar landscapes in a rough-and-tumble 911 Dakar. But let’s get one thing straight: Namibia ain’t exactly the Dakar Rally. The real Dakar throws down in West Africa, Senegal to be precise. But Namibia, further down south? It’s equally epic in its own right.

Richard Hammond, a.k.a TopGear’s old resident Hamster is back on DriveTribe with a juicy dilemma: Did he choose wisely? In his garage sit two shiny 992-generation Porsche 911s, but a nagging question gnaws at him – did he grab the wrong one? Specifically, should he have snagged the more versatile 911 Dakar instead of his most recent acquisition, the luxurious, but equally ballistic 911 Turbo S Cabriolet?

Remember the Camel Trophy? That epic off-road endurance race that pushed man and machine to their limits? Often dubbed the Olympics of 4x4s, it was a competition that was held annually between 1980 and 2000. From the impenetrable jungles of the Amazon and Sumatra to the frozen extremes of Siberia, the Camel Trophy ran through, some of the most hostile and untraversable areas on the planet. Sure, you may be used to seeing old-school Land Rover Defenders and Discoverys covered in mud from back in the day. But this rendering of a Macan Turbo electric with a Camel-Trophy theme by Blackfish Graphics caught my attention for a few reasons.

Remember that insane project where Porsche tried to drive a 911 to the top of a freaking volcano? Yeah, that wasn’t some fever dream – it actually happened, and now they’re dropping a documentary about the whole ordeal. "Edith: Volcano Ascent" is about to erupt onto the scene at the upcoming Monterey Car Week. The car in question? Not a souped-up SUV, but a specially-prepped Porsche 911. We first caught wind of "Edith" back in late 2022, when Porsche was busy testing the car. Their destination and target? Ojos del Salado up in the Andes in Chile, is the world’s highest active volcano. At a lung-crushing 22,093 feet, to give you some context, even Everest’s base camp sits lower than where Porsche was aiming for. This is also the highest volcano on Earth and the highest peak in Chile.

The first-generation Porsche Cayenne (955/977) entered the market in 2002. Now while it might be getting on in years, don’t let that fool you. This luxury SUV still packs a punch and has a certain undeniable charm that newer models can’t replicate. Back in the day, its 996-inspired front-end looks, off-road prowess, and a range of engine options, including a 514-horsepower twin-turbo V8, made it a unique and compelling choice for enthusiasts who wanted a family hauler. Production of the Gen-1 Cayenne ended in 2010.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Rally breaks new ground as the first-ever rally-inspired electric vehicle, as well as the first off-road Mustang. Joining the Mustang Mach-E family, the Rally variant steers Ford’s EV range into a unique direction, trekking dirt roads, kicking up gravel, and mixing milkshakes while doing so with zero tailpipe emissions. With its rally-tuned suspension, dual-motor electric powertrain, and distinctive styling, the Mach-E Rally stands apart from its GT Performance siblings.

In 2004, Porsche took a bold step into the SUV market by introducing the Cayenne. While controversial among brand purists, this move ultimately proved to be a savior for the company, as the Cayenne quickly became Porsche’s best-selling model. Designed to compete with the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class, the Cayenne offered a unique blend of Porsche performance and SUV practicality.