Porsche Classic welcomes first-gen Cayenne with rally-inspired builds

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Released in Europe in 2002 (internally called 955), the first-generation Cayenne is almost old enough to join the air-cooled 911s and the V8-powered 928 under the Porsche Classic umbrella. The company’s classic car specialist is ready to welcome the Cayenne with a few outdoor concepts that will appeal to enthusiasts.

By adding the 955-generation Cayenne to the Porsche Classic range, a wider range of factory-built spare parts will be available for owners who drive one every day – and, sooner or later, for those who repair one . Porsche also wants to offer factory-supported upgrades, such as a modern infotainment system and a robust-looking off-road package. The two prototypes it built illustrate some of the non-stock parts it could make available for the original Cayenne.

Both design studies look poised to explore some of the world’s most grueling terrains. They are based on post-facelift models and are equipped with alloy wheels wrapped in beefy tires, skid plates, a roof rack full of accessories and additional lighting. Porsche hasn’t published pictures of the interior, but it told us that the experimental SUVs will get floor mats and a cargo compartment tray, among other things. Mechanical changes are not part of the transformation.

While the Cayenne will inevitably fall under the stewardship of Porsche’s Classic division, executives haven’t decided exactly which upgrades to make available for the SUV. Taking the two prototypes to off-road events taking place in Europe this summer will help them make the decision by gathering feedback from enthusiasts. One of the duo’s stops is during the Abenteuer & Allrad show that takes place in Germany on July 29.

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Full and final details on Porsche Classic’s program for the first generation Cayenne will be released in the coming months. It will be interesting to see what effect the factory focus has on the value of the SUV.

What about other Porsche models?

Porsche is also developing a performance chassis upgrade for the 996 generation 911 (1997-2006) and, surprisingly, for the limited edition 959, which was one of the best supercars of the 1980s. Depending on the type of Porsche in your garage, you don’t have to wait for it to be considered a classic to customize it with factory-supported parts.

The company teamed up with partner Manthey-Racing to create a Performance Kit for the 991-generation 911 GT2 RS (pictured above) that adds body kit, coilover suspension, specific brake parts and magnesium wheels. This package has already been approved for production and will start on sale this month. Porsche notes that additional parts (including racing brake pads and a 3D printed saddle) will appear a little later in the catalog.