Restomodded to perfection; the first-generation Porsche Cayenne gets overhaul

After finessing the SUV game ahead of the trend, Porsche is celebrating the Cayenne in the best way possible; restomodding first-generation models and using them off-road.

Porsche has always been known for making cars that are more than just pretty faces. The Cayenne took the brand to new heights by tackling the highly lucrative SUV market and despite it coming from the brand synonymous with high-performance road cars, it’s still a capable off-road machine. And now, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first-generation Cayenne, Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE has restored and customized a fleet of eight of these SUVs for off-road use.

These aren’t just show cars, either. The modified Cayennes have already been tested in the desert, and now they’re being prepared for the Icons of Porsche festival, where guests will be able to take them on off-road routes. “We were tasked with regenerating the first-generation Cayenne to highlight its offroad capabilities through accessorizing and modifying where necessary,” says Darren Abel of Porsche.

Finding cars that met Porsche’s requirements was the most challenging part of the restoration process. Cayennes in good condition and as close to standard as possible were sourced from various locations and put through Porsche’s rigorous approval process before being modified. As you’d expect, all of the vehicles required a lot of work, given that they’re now between 17 and 20 years old.

Related: The Cayenne Convertible prototype turns back the clock of time

Despite the challenges, the project has been a success, with customers already expressing interest in buying the restored first-generation Porsche SUV. In fact, one of the cars used in the project was bought from a customer who was curious about Porsche’s plans. After hearing about the project, the customer expressed interest in buying the vehicle back once it was completed.

All in all, it’s a fitting tribute to the first-generation Cayenne and a reminder that Porsche can build more than just low-slung, high-performance sports cars. As Abel puts it, “this project renews the love for the first-generation Cayenne.”