PORSCHE has commenced prototype testing of expertise from its Mission R electrical racer, which it has constructed into the physique of a 718 Cayman.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance incorporates the driveline and battery pack from the Mission R inside the physique shell of the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport – it transfers a mind-bending 735kW of energy to all 4 wheels in “qualification mode”.
In common competitors, Porsche says a “regular 450kW is on the market for half-hour” – simply sufficient to finish a Carrera Cup race. The Zuffenhausen-based agency says the lap occasions and high velocity of its 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance are “on par with the efficiency of the present 992-generation 911 GT3 Cup automotive”.
Due to 900V expertise, the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance’s battery pack could be replenished from 5 to 80 per cent in “about quarter-hour” by way of DC fast-charging.
“With the Mission R, we’ve proven how Porsche envisages sustainable buyer motor racing sooner or later,” stated Porsche GT racing automobile venture supervisor, Matthias Schloz.
“The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance now demonstrates that this imaginative and prescient works impressively on the racetrack.
“We’re very excited in regards to the response as a result of a one-make cup with electrical racing automobiles can be an necessary addition to our current buyer racing programme.”
Like with the Mission R, the absolutely electrical drivetrain of the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance relies on a completely excited synchronous machine (PESM) on the entrance and rear axles. Collectively, they flip the racing automotive into an all-wheel-drive juggernaut that may ship a peak output of as much as 800kW. The direct oil cooling of the e-motors and battery pack (developed by Porsche) counteracts thermally induced derating.
“The mixing of oil cooling has considerably impacted the automobile idea,” stated Porsche GT4 ePerformance venture supervisor, Björn Förster.
“With specialists within the fields of aerodynamics and thermodynamics, in addition to high-voltage and bodywork specialists, the event staff created an structure to faucet the complete potential of the battery cells for the primary time, since there isn’t any thermal derating. On this manner, the ability output in racing mode stays fixed for half an hour.”
The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance was designed by a staff led by Grant Larson, who designed the unique Porsche Boxster idea. The staff widened the bodywork of the donor automobile by 140mm to accommodate 18-inch Michelin race tyres. The broader fender flares and physique panels incorporate renewable supplies comparable to natural-fibre composites and recycled carbon-fibre, Porsche says.
Roughly 6000 of the prototype’s parts have been constituted of scratch.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance will make its public debut on the Goodwood Competition of Velocity (23-26 June 2022) earlier than heading to Porsche’s manufacturing facility in Leipzig in August for the ability’s twentieth anniversary. From there, the mannequin will tour a number of European international locations earlier than heading to North America in 2023 and Asia in 2024.
Porsche says that 80 per cent of all its automobile gross sales will probably be electrical by the top of the last decade.
