Porsche unveiled a custom 2009 Cayenne GTS at the Icons of Porsche festival in Dubai, marking the first time the company applied its "Factory Re-Commission" restoration to a first-generation Cayenne rather than a classic sports car.
Entrepreneur Phillip Sarofim commissioned the project, inspired by the 911 Spirit 70. His brief: "1970s vibes," with plans to drive the finished car through the Rub al-Khali Desert towing an Airstream caravan.
The Build
The exterior wears Blackolive, a Paint to Sample color, with matte black lower bodywork and alloy wheels. Coarse-tread tires replace the standard rubber for off-road traction. A US-style receiver hitch handles the Airstream.
Inside, English green leather (Leather to Sample) covers the seats and panels. The iconic Pasha pattern appears in black/olive on seat centers and the glove compartment. Light-brushed aluminum door openers and passenger-side strips add period-appropriate detail.
Factory Re-Commission
The donor vehicle had approximately 50,000 miles (80,500 km) and was in solid mechanical condition. Only a towbar retrofit was needed before the aesthetic transformation began. Factory Re-Commission allows customers to completely reselect colors and materials for owned Porsche vehicles, with feasibility assessments and cost estimates provided after a workshop inspection in Zuffenhausen.
Applying this program to a first-generation Cayenne suggests Porsche sees value in restoring and personalizing its SUV heritage alongside the traditional 911 and 356 restoration work.
