Porsche took two specifically modified 911s to Chile. One even drove 20,000 toes up the facet of a volcano.
Porsche put the 911 to a brand new and nearly unimaginable check. The sports activities automotive workforce went to Chile to drive up the facet of the best volcano on this planet.
This PR stunt showcases how rugged the trendy 992 technology of the Porsche 911 could be with the fitting modifications, and it additionally elevates the joy degree for the soon-to-be-revealed 2023 911 Safari, though Porsche has not formally introduced that manufacturing mannequin but.
Latest in Long History of Off-Road 911s
The Porsche 911 began its off-pavement racing profession means again in 1971. Porsche entered 5 automobiles within the 4,000-mile-long East African Safari Rally that yr, and solely one of many 5 managed to complete.
The off-road 911 actually took off when Porsche constructed the 953, which was a closely modified 4×4 model of the 911. That automotive entered and gained the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally and was the idea for the legendary 959.
When the 959 adopted up that 953 racing automotive, the roadgoing AWD Porsche was born. The 911 obtained its first AWD system in 1988, badged Carrera 4, and since then the choice for all-wheel drive has been a key a part of 911 efficiency.
Porsche 911 Volcano Climb Preparation
For this Chilean problem, Porsche began with two copies of its 911 Carrera 4S. They ship 443 horsepower from their factory-stock turbocharged flat-six engines and are outfitted with the obtainable seven-speed guide transmission.
Porsche’s R&D crew in Weissach then labored with Romain Dumas Motorsport to create these volcano-climbing beasts. First, the automobiles had been fitted with roll cages, carbon seats, and full harnesses. Safety was paramount, operating to extremes within the distant area.
Then Porsche fitted a massively raised suspension and portal axles. Portal axles add a gearbox at every nook and decrease the wheel facilities in comparison with the axle facilities. The impact is extra floor clearance, and these Volcano 911s now have 13.7 inches of it. That’s half an inch greater than a Ford Raptor pickup.
New gear ratios had been picked to permit for extra light throttle inputs at decrease speeds. The new gears additionally work nicely to assist spin the large tires. Porsche didn’t say the scale, however we will see Cooper Discoverer STT Pro and BFG All-Terrain tires within the pictures.
Extremely modified bodywork does its finest to cowl the tire bundle. The bumpers have been reduce away to allow them to clear terrain, and big air inlets the place the rear facet glass used to reside assist the engine breathe at these nice heights. An aramid fiber undertray lets the 911 slide over rocks when issues get just a little too furry.
The final massive change is a little bit of a thriller. Porsche calls the system the “Warp-Connecter” and says it’s a mechanical hyperlink that makes wheel hundreds fixed when the suspension flexes. It seems like a middle diff-locking system accompanied by guide lockers within the entrance and rear axles.
20,000 Feet Challenges Car and Driver
The trek was far out of your odd check session. Porsche introduced the automobiles to 19,708 toes above sea degree. At that peak, the workforce wanted to deliver its personal lodging. They additionally had to deal with half the oxygen you’d discover close to the ocean.
Endurance racer Romain Dumas drove one of many two 911s and was the workforce chief. He drove his rally-ready 911 up the facet of the volcano. The automobiles had been stopped not by an absence of air, however once they reached partitions of ice and snow, they couldn’t get by means of.
“This was a truly memorable and special moment in a place that’s both beautiful and brutal at the same time,” he stated. “I guess the only machines anywhere in the world higher than us today were aircraft!”
Porsche says the purpose was to indicate off what the 911 was able to. We know the true motive for this spectacular PR stunt is to tease and get individuals excited concerning the forthcoming 2023 911 Safari, Porsche’s first consumer-available Safari-style sports activities automotive.
While they haven’t formally introduced such a manufacturing mannequin, they’ve lengthy teased it. And we’ve got it on good authority that it will likely be revealed on the 2022 LA Auto Show in late November.
Watch the Only Porsche 911 We Want to Drive Off Road