Other than the 911 itself, few Porsche models have had as big an impact on the brand as the Cayenne. When it first debuted back in 2002, Porsche was stepping into the SUV world for the first time, and the Cayenne helped prove that a Porsche could be just as interesting away from a racetrack or winding road. More than 20 years later, two owners decided to see just how far one could go, taking a second-generation Cayenne Diesel from the southern tip of Argentina all the way to Alaska.
Rainer Behrendt and Jan Bongers spent 100 days driving the Pan-American Highway, covering nearly 26,000 miles across 15 countries. Their Cayenne was upgraded with off-road tires, auxiliary lights, and a 26.4-gallon fuel tank, but the trip still threw plenty at it. In the Andes, the SUV climbed to nearly 16,400-feet, where the thin air caused problems for its diesel particulate filter and eventually put the Cayenne into limp mode. The pair spent around two weeks driving with the engine limited to 2,000 rpm before Porsche technicians in Lima got it sorted.
That wasn't the only issue. Finding diesel in Bolivia proved difficult, and later in Ecuador, the pair had to track down AdBlue before the Cayenne's system would prevent the engine from starting. In between the mechanical headaches, they crossed the Salar de Uyuni, visited Machu Picchu, made their way through Central America, and eventually reached Mexico. The Cayenne also became a way for the two travelers to connect with Porsche Club members in several countries, with local owners helping them along the way.
Once they reached the U.S., the trip became a little more familiar, but there were still plenty of miles to cover. They continued through California and into Canada before heading north toward the Arctic Circle. From there, the landscape changed again as the Cayenne made its way through Alaska and onto the Dalton Highway toward Deadhorse.
After 100 days and nearly 26,000 miles, the Cayenne finally reached Deadhorse. The trip wasn't exactly trouble-free, but that is probably what makes the story worth telling. The SUV had to deal with high-altitude roads, rough terrain, long stretches between fuel stops, and a few mechanical problems, yet it still made the entire run from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska. Check out all the Porsche Cayennes currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below.
Source: Porsche
