Porsche 911 Prototypes With Portal Axles Climbed The World’s Tallest Volcano

Greater than 30 years in the past, Porsche engineers fitted an all-wheel-drive system to a 911 for the primary time and let it unfastened on the Paris-Dakar rally – which it gained in 1985. However Porsche’s historic win at Dakar nearly pales compared to what engineers just lately achieved throughout an outing to considered one of South America’s hardest trails.

Porsche took two extremely modified 911s and drove them up an lively volcano. Not simply any volcano, both, however the Ojos del Salado in Chile, the tallest volcano on the planet. Led by legendary racing driver Romain Dumas, the duo reached an elevation of 19,708 toes (6,007 meters) whereas dodging boulders and coping with temperatures as little as minus 22 levels Fahrenheit (minus 30 Celsius).

New portal axles helped enhance the bottom clearance to 13.8 inches (350 millimeters) whereas revised entrance and rear clips gave the pair of Porsches higher off-road angles. A set of 12.2-inch extensive off-road tires afforded each vehicles tons of grip, whereas inside, a roll cage, carbon fiber seats, and security harnesses helped defend Dumas and his staff on their method up.

Engineers additionally added what the corporate calls the “Porsche Warp-Connecter.” Initially designed for observe use, it creates a mechanical hyperlink between all 4 wheels and creates fixed wheel load – even when the chassis is beneath excessive articulation.

Despite the fact that these two 911s had been extremely modified for off-road responsibility, they did retain a number of manufacturing facility parts, significantly the powertrain. Porsche took an unmodified model of its turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine from the 4S, good for 443 horsepower (330 kilowatts), and paired it to a regular seven-speed guide transmission.

In fact, the vehicles wouldn’t be full with out correct racing liveries. One automotive wears the identical scheme discovered on the present 963 LMDh racer whereas the opposite sports activities a 911-themed livery designed by Porsche’s staff in Weissach.

Hopefully this excessive off-road take a look at is a preview of issues to return.