Porsche 919 is the Champagne of Hybrid Race Cars
Technologies developed in Porsche 919 Le Mans hybrid prototype likely to benefit consumers in future road-going models.
Porsche has given us lots of amazing cars over the past seven decades, from the 356 Spyder and 911 Turbo, to the Boxster and upcoming Taycan. Of course, before such wonders were bestowed upon the public, the cars and technologies behind each one were developed on the race track. Rallying, Formula One, Group C, wherever Stuttgart sent their best, a legend would soon emerge.
Motor Trend recently experienced a new legend in the making at Motorland Aragón near Barcelona, Spain with the Porsche 919 Hybrid Le Mans hybrid prototype. The publication was one of only nine invited to take this hybrid race car out for a spin against the backdrop of the Spanish countryside.
Before sitting behind the 919’s yoke—no steering wheels for this grounded jet fighter—the publication first had to learn how to rein the beast in behind the virtual yoke at Porsche Motorsport in Weissach, Germany. The simulator features a real 919 tub for the subject to practice and improve their skills before a surround screen of Motorland Aragón.
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The next day, Motor Trend took out the real deal, a technological wonder powered by a 500-horse turbocharged V4 (or “steep-standing boxer engine,” according to Porsche) behind the driver, paired with a 400-horse electric motor to help the 1,900-pound carbon-fiber/aluminum rocket ship break necks at 3.4 g as it hits speeds of 206 mph. The 919 Hybrid also uses the exhaust gases from the turbo to power a generator used to charge the car’s batteries during braking and acceleration.
Speaking of electricity, the 919 Hybrid also uses the same 800-volt system found in the Mission E concept. It’s also possible for the turbo V4 to find an application outside of the 919, such as the next 718 as the magazine ponders. All we can ask is, when can we drive this in Forza?
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