Porsche Cayenne Turbo (955/E1)
Porsche’s first SUV could carry a family, crawl in low range and still reach 266 km/h with a twin-turbo V8.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo front.jpg · JanST · CC BY-SA 2.5
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More than a set of wheels.
Porsche unveiled the Cayenne in September 2002 as its third model line after the 911 and Boxster. Developed in the joint ‘Colorado’ programme with Volkswagen, it used a Porsche-designed V8 and its own chassis tuning. Bodies came from Bratislava for final assembly in a new Leipzig plant. The Turbo’s 450 PS headline was only half the story: low-range gearing, variable all-wheel drive and height-adjustable air suspension gave it real off-road hardware too.
Look a little closer.
With air suspension raised, the first Cayenne could have 273 mm of ground clearance—more than the diameter of a classroom ruler.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
One drivetrain for tarmac and rocks
PTM normally divided power 62:38 rear to front, then varied the split through a multi-plate clutch from fully rear to fully front. A low-range transfer gear and locking centre differential added slow-speed climbing ability, so the system was more than road-only all-wheel drive.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · The third Porsche ↗A shared project, a distinct Porsche
Volkswagen and Porsche shared the basic programme, but Porsche says it led technical development and created the launch V8s itself. Painted bodies came from Bratislava while the Cayenne’s final assembly and Porsche-specific systems were handled in Leipzig.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · Is the Cayenne the successor to the 959? ↗Where these facts come from
- Porsche Newsroom · The third Porsche—an extraordinary success story
- Porsche Newsroom · Is the Cayenne the successor to the 959?
- Porsche Newsroom DE · How Porsche made the Cayenne fast
- The Auto Channel · Porsche Cayenne introduces new four-wheel-drive system (2002 release)
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 2, 2026.