Porsche is on the verge of releasing a battery-electric sports car. It’s not quite there yet, but after unveiling the Mission R concept in 2021, Porsche is now hard at work ensuring that the electric powertrain technology that the concept was supposed to demonstrate can handle the demands of a Porsche sports car. A pair of 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance cars are helping the company achieve this goal.
A flat-six engine is typically found behind the cockpit of a Porsche Cayman GT4 (whether it’s a road-going model or the track-focused Clubsport variant).
That’s where the car’s battery pack is in the ePerformance version.
It’s an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack designed to provide consistent performance for the duration of a sprint race—roughly 25 to 40 minutes. The 718 GT4 ePerformance (and the Mission R) will run at 900 V, which is higher than Porsche’s other BEV (the 800 V Taycan). This allows the car to DC fast-charge from 5 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes.
The mode you choose determines how fast and powerful the 718 GT4 ePerformance is. The battery can deliver a maximum of 985 horsepower (735 kW) to each axle via a permanently excited synchronous motor.
In race mode, the goal is to provide sustained performance for at least half an hour rather than a single lap of speed, so the battery’s output is reduced to a still-powerful 603 hp (450 kW).
Image credit: Terry Lasconia | Twitter: @LasconiaTerry
The integration of oil cooling has significantly impacted the vehicle concept. With experts in the fields of aerodynamics and thermodynamics as well as high-voltage and bodywork specialists, the development team created an architecture to tap the full potential of the battery cells for the first time, since there is no thermal derating. In this way, the power output in racing mode remains constant for half an hour
— Björn Förster, GT4 ePerformance project manager
The ePerformance has a few extra features that set it apart from other Cayman GT4s. The car’s body is made of natural fiber composites and is 5.5 inches (140 mm) wider.
Other parts are made from recycled carbon fiber, as Porsche strives to reduce emissions from its manufacturing processes. Even the tires contain a high percentage of recycled materials.
If you happen to be in England in June for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, you’ll be able to witness the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance’s first public outing as it attempts the hill climb. It’s a larger and heavier car than VW’s ID.R racer, but in qualifying mode, the Cayman will be significantly more powerful, so VW’s record may not be safe.
Following that, Porsche will take its pair of test cars to various events in Europe before bringing them to the US in 2023. The goal isn’t just to show off a cool new toy, but also to show Porsche’s racing customers what the future looks like.
Image credit: Terry Lasconia | Twitter: @LasconiaTerry
The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance blazes a trail to Porsche customer racing with electrically powered racing cars. As a first step, we will unveil this concept to our global partners. With drivers, teams, organizers, authorities, and other interested parties, we’re also gathering ideas for Porsche racing formats in the future.
— Oliver Schwab, project manager of the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance
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