Project Copper was never meant to be an overland build for the sake of social media or a collection of parts bolted onto a luxury SUV. It was an exercise in restraint and purpose, a Cayenne S built the way we believe Porsche might have done it if they had spent a little more time wandering through the Colorado backcountry.

Every modification was chosen with the same philosophy that guided the original vehicle: capability without compromise. The factory air suspension was retained and enhanced with our Berg Peaks GEN2 Air 2.5 Inch Lift and Berg Peaks Adjustable Upper Control Arms. Lightweight Berg Peaks Aluminum Skid Plates protect what matters without unnecessary bulk. The Berg Peaks Trail Beam and KC Gravity Titan lights provide serious illumination when the pavement disappears. And finally, a Dakar-inspired livery pays homage to Porsche's rich off-road heritage, all without sacrificing the Cayenne's unmistakable style and silhouette.

Project Copper didn't start as much of a passion project as it was our test car for some of our new products that we were engineering for the 958. As we continued our development, we fell in love with the Cayenne we would eventually call Copper. Once we were please with the state of the art lift kit we designed, and were blown away at how the kit worked with this second generation Cayenne, we knew we had to take it all the way. 

It's still refined, and it's still comfortable. It just happens to be equally at home carving through mountain passes, crossing a rocky trail, or parked outside your favorite coffee shop on a Tuesday morning.

Starting with just 79,000 miles, this 2011 Cayenne Turbo S has undergone an extensive mechanical refresh to ensure it's as enjoyable to drive as it is to admire. The timing chain service has been completed, the transmission has been serviced, the cooling system has been flushed, and the factory air suspension has been refreshed with replacement air springs that have fewer than 40,000 miles of use. Every major service item was approached with the same philosophy that guided the rest of the build: if we're going to do it, we're going to do it correctly.

Inside, the Cayenne remains unmistakably Porsche. The optional dark Cognac leather interior is complemented by walnut trim and deeply bolstered GTS seats that are equally at home on a cross-country road trip or a spirited drive through the canyons. Dual-pane acoustic glass keeps the cabin remarkably quiet, a reminder that despite its newfound appetite for dirt roads, this was still engineered as a flagship luxury SUV.

Finished in Auburn Metallic and accented by Berg Peaks' custom Dakar-inspired livery, Project Copper manages to strike a balance that shouldn't exist. Project Copper isn't about proving a Porsche can go off-road. We settled that argument years ago. It's about proving that capability doesn't require compromise. It can still cross states in complete comfort. It can still outrun traffic. It still carries all the refinement that made the Porsche Cayenne famous. It keeps going long after the pavement gives up, because that's where the roads worth remembering begin.

•    Platform
2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

•    Engine
4.8L Twin-Turbocharged V8

•    Performance Specs
550 Horsepower
553 lb-ft Torque
Permanent All-Wheel Drive
Adaptive Air Suspensio
Adjustable Ride Height

•    Suspension
Berg Peaks 2.5" Air Lift
Berg Peaks Adjustable Upper Control Arms
Berg Peaks Subframe Spacers

•    Wheels/Tires
Alpha Echo Wheels
Goodyear Wrangler H-Rated 265/60/18

•    Armor
Berg Peaks GEN2 Skid Plates Full Set Up

•    Lighting
Berg Peaks Trail Beam™
KC Gravity® Titan LEDs

•    Accessories
In Cabin Fire Extinguisher

•    Livery
Custom Dakar-inspired graphics