First Look: Porsche GT4 ePerformance
Meet the latest GT4 ‘concept’ that will soon have a one-make series alongside the Carrera Cup. Did we mention it has 1000 HP and no engine?
Not too many individuals have the privilege of being personally invited out to Valencia, Spain by Porsche to test out a new vehicle. However, automotive legend, Chris Harris, is no ordinary man.
As a part of a video for his new Collecting Cars YouTube channel, Harris has gotten the chance to check out a soon-to-be addition to the Porsche Motorsport lineup: The GT4 ePerformance.
Imagine if Porsche made a proper widebody version of the GT4 RS and gave it a faster lap time than the current generation 911 GT3 Cup. Now imagine if it was all-electric. Well, it is.
An adapted chassis based on GT4 Clubsport served as the basis of this new high-performance race-ready Cayman. It also shares the same floorplan as the Mission R, another all-electric motorsport weapon soon to come from the brand.
New Dawn, New Start
This new ePerformance model in many ways is a big step forward for the entire brand, as their focus and development make a shift toward electrification.
“This is a marketing project designed to help Porsche manage the transition in the public perception of a Boxster and Cayman from being petrol-driven to being electric, as the next Boxster/Cayman will be electric,” said Harris, addressing the subject.
As painful of reality as it may be for some of us that the next generation of entry-level Porsche will only be electric, Harris reminds us that “don’t forget, it’s also making them much faster.”
So what exactly is the GT4 ePerformance, what makes it tick, and how does it drive? Let’s break down some of the feedback as Harris ventures out on his first lap in Circuito de Valencia.
First Drive on Track
Harris is a man accustomed to being inside of a race cockpit being an accomplished racing driver himself, however, as he entered the chassis of the ePerformance he commented it was “intimidating” inside the cabin.
While active in “drive mode 3” also known as Race Mode, the ePerformance has about 600 HP on tap powered by its 4WD system. At about 3,300 pounds, it is not the lightest race car, but the capability of electric torque compensates well.
Within the cabin, the gearbox and three electric motors are impressively loud, Harris stating that it is “a Porsche race car unlike anything else I’ve driven.”
Raw traction, as well as speed, was on-demand, as 911 GT3 R levels of downforce are capable of being generated by the ePerformance even with a much smaller wing.
What Exactly Is a ‘Concept’ to Porsche?
The ePerformance is still considered a “concept” even though there have been about two to three years of development for the program already. Harris believes that a Porsche “concept” is a finished car for most other brands.
Luckily Harris also got the chance to discuss the vehicle with GT racing vehicle project manager, Matthias Scholz, while testing the car at the race track. Scholz would break down how and why this concept came to be.
According to Scholz, the idea began with creating the “concept of a cheating racecar”, which then switched over to the sustainability ideology of the Mission R.
During development, the goal of GT4 ePerformance was to create a vehicle capable of a racing range of 30 to 40 minutes, the average duration of a Carrera Cup race.
Innovations in Cooling are Revolutionizing Racing
How exactly did they manage to create a consistent power output through the duration of a full race with the heat requirements of three separate electric motors?
The magic comes in an innovative style of cooling the drivetrain. By integrating direct oil cooling, they are able to eliminate thermal derating across the battery systems.
The efficiency of thermoregulation is at the forefront of importance for any electrical system. In the high-pressure environment of motorsports, consistency is key.
Thus, Porsche managed to develop a singular cooling loop with only a single pump that circulates throughout the entire drivetrain.
Using an updated motor variant derived from the Taycan produced in the Zuffenhausen plant, this power setup also has the potential for about 1,000 HP.
This increased power output is made possible by the efficiency of the oil cooling.
Magic of ‘Party Mode’
As Harris hopped into the ePerformance for the second time, now in “party mode” or “drive mode 9”, he had all 1,000 HP ready for use.
Without ABS or traction control, Harris admits that the qualifying mode was “by any measurement, some crazy shit.”
Without a rear or mid-engine to get in the way, diffuser design is much simpler. The grip is increased thanks to the sharing of some of the aerodynamic developments from Porsche’s LMP cars.
Being the first-ever 4WD Cayman, the system still distributes the majority of the power to the rear. The chassis balance even without an engine is 52 percent of the weight on the front end.
What are your thoughts on the latest electric motorsport offering from Porsche? We have to say in its electric-themed livery it looks absolutely stunning. Never has there been a widebody GT4 so proper. Join the discussion here on 6SpeedOnline!
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