As last year's success of the Top 3 positions in the Transsyberia Rally will attest, the dialogue as to whether the Cayenne is a car or a truck will continue. Hitting the Net and searching the various Web sites dedicated to the Porsche Type 597 can provide a quick and useful history lesson. The very rare 597, aka the Jagdwagen (hunting car), were produced in very small numbers by the factory in the mid-'50s. The factory had hoped to land a NATO contract but, having failed to do so, the 597 was offered to the public. Much like the VW Type 181 or "Thing" as it was known in this country, the Porsche was a bit too elusive for the public's taste. It is hardly a stretch to say that the 597 is the spiritual ancestor to the Cayenne. The 597 was a solidly built, well thought-out vehicle capable of living off-road. If the failure of the 597 was due to politics and bad timing, the same case can't be made for the Cayenne S Transsyberia. While it may not carry the cache of a GT3 or 997 Turbo, Porsche has backed up its belief in the ability of the Cayenne by competing in one of the toughest events in the world. Regardless of where you come down on the Cayenne, the effort, commitment, and results must be applauded.