Porsche Just Turned an Old Cayenne Into a One-Off Desert Runner

Sonderwunsch for the SUV Crowd
Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program is usually associated with rare machinery and deep pockets, a place where the brand can create one-off builds for buyers who want something more personal than what the standard options sheet can offer.

That extends to the Factory Re-Commission side of the program, where owners of older Porsches can have their cars refreshed and reimagined from the ground up. Most of the time, those efforts go toward icons like the Carrera GT or classic 911s. This time, Porsche applied the same level of attention to something you’d typically see parked outside a school run. A 2009 Cayenne GTS became the canvas, and the end result is a retro-tinged SUV built for soaking up sand in the Middle East.

A Cayenne Reborn With ’70s Flair
The client, American collector Phillip Sarofim, wanted what he called “1970s vibes,” inspired by Porsche’s own 911 Spirit 70 concept. Porsche started with his lightly-used first-gen Cayenne GTS, showing just over 50,000 miles, and rebuilt it to what the company describes as near-new condition. The exterior was resprayed in Blackolive, a Paint to Sample shade, paired with matte-black lower cladding and wheels for a more off-road stance. Chunky tyres complete the look, and a US-style receiver tow hitch was added for the Airstream he plans to pull across the Rub al-Khali.

Inside, the theme leans even harder into nostalgia. English green leather (another to-sample request) meets the classic Pasha pattern in black and olive. The textile covers the seat centres and even the inner glovebox, with its geometric blocks giving the cabin a playful rhythm. Light-brushed aluminum trim provides contrast, running across the passenger side and door panels. It’s a strange mix on paper, yet the combination gives the cabin a period flavour without feeling like a replica car.

If Money is Not an Object
Porsche hasn’t detailed any powertrain changes, so the GTS likely keeps its factory V8, which should be more than enough for desert roads. Given the age of the donor vehicle, the company notes that mechanical restoration often goes hand-in-hand with personalization, especially when a project involves a full rebuild.

Pricing remains undisclosed, though it’s safe to assume a one-off, factory-built custom Porsche doesn’t come cheap. With this Cayenne, the brand shows that even its earlier SUVs can become bespoke toys – provided the owner is willing to spend the kind of money where price stops being the main concern.