Is the Porsche Cayenne Really the 959's True Successor?

Raising Eyebrows

It seems hard to believe, but the Porsche Cayenne just turned 20 years old, and while it was controversial at first, the SUV quite literally saved Porsche from some seriously dire financial straights. However, the automaker also recently caused a bit of a stir when it went so far as to call the Cayenne the iconic 959's true successor, which raised some eyebrows, to say the least.

Photos: Porsche

SUV-Like

The 959, of course, was a unique machine in that it needed to be both a fantastic road car and a tough off-road racer. Features including an extra low-range first gear for off-road work and a height-adjustable chassis are the kinds of things that you normally see in off-road-focused SUVs - not supercars.

Photos: Porsche

Similar but Different

Thus, Porsche draws a line between the 959 and Cayenne, pointing out the two very different vehicles' similarities to back up its belief. "It was an everyday car robust enough to go off the beaten track, yet would still behave like a true Porsche sports car on the road," the automaker notes. "There were differences between the Cayenne and 959, however: for the first time, Porsche would be building a four-door car and a sporty off-roader at that. It was clear that such a vehicle would have to bear critiques from all sides."

Photos: Porsche

Off-Road Tech

Developed under the code name "Project Colorado," the Cayenne was based on the Volkswagen Touareg, though it featured many differences including two newly developed V8 powerplants. It was also chock full of capable off-road tech, including Porsche Traction Management, low-range four-wheel drive, locking differentials, the optional Advanced Off-Road Technology Package, and PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) chassis with air suspension.

Photos: Porsche

Making an Impression

One person, in particular, was deeply impressed by the Cayenne’s capability - Walter Röhrl. In his role as a development driver, he was already enthusiastic about the prototypes of the new off-road sports car, but in Spain, he was to see for himself the capabilities of the new car on a specially built off-road test track. He still remembers arriving in the south of the country and feeling astonished at what the Cayenne was expected to overcome during testing: "I thought they weren't serious. I was sure it couldn't manage these gigantic obstacles. But it did. That really impressed me."

Photos: Porsche

Big Steps

"If you compare the performance of the first Cayenne with the current third-generation car,” says Röhrl, “you can only take your hat off to the achievement of the development team. I would even go so far as to say that other cars have not been able to take such a big step in the same amount of time."

Photos: Porsche

Stunning Conclusion

"A Porsche Cayenne is an all-rounder,” Röhrl concluded, “and yes, you can perhaps really compare it with the 959." If a legendary figure in the Porsche world - one that's driven pretty much every Porsche model ever made - can come to this conclusion, well, who are we to argue?

Photos: Porsche

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