Secret Porsche 911 Concepts Have Scaled World’s Highest Volcano In Chile

Published November 4, 2022
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The two sportscars were modified with portal axles for taller ground clearance and numerous other modifications

The Porsche 911 project cars scaled the dormant volcano Ojos del Salado in Chile.
Both concepts were modified 992 911 Carrerra 4S sportscars with 443PS engines.
They each get a Porsche Warp-Connecter device for proper four-wheel drive.
Ojos del Salado presented extreme testing conditions for the cars as well as the team.

“Over 30 years ago, a team of Porsche engineers fitted four wheel drive to a 911 to explore ‘what if?’ – and I’m proud that this natural curiosity and drive amongst engineers to explore the limits, to test new ideas and above all to inspire, is alive and well.” – Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President of Complete Vehicle Architecture and Characteristics, Porsche AG.

Porsche has successfully completed a tough, dangerous endeavour to scale the highest volcano in the world. A team of engineers specially modified a pair of 911 sportscars, and led by endurance racer Romain Dumas, managed to reach the summit of Ojos del Salado in Chile, a place without any roads that’s severely lacking in oxygen.

Porsche 911s were modified for purpose

“It’s been magical to build a 911 like the world has never seen before – made possible by a small team of engineering enthusiasts. The 911 has already been proven on the track and, of course, on the road. With this project, we‘re shifting the focus to where there are no roads” – Michael Rösler.

The team chose 992-generation 911 Carrera 4S sportscars as the base for modifications. Built for on-road performance, the 911s did have all-wheel drive, but the engineers put in a ‘Porsche Warp-Connecter’ device, previously created for motorsport applications, to give the sportscars proper four-wheel drive.

Roll-cages were put in for safety and the team switched to lower gear ratios for better control in off-road conditions. The cars were raised with Portal axles, a modified suspension and off-roading tyres, increasing the sportscars’ ground clearance to a whopping 350mm. For comparison, a stock Mahindra Thar offers up to 226mm of clearance.

Other mods include manual differential locks, a front winch, a modified cooling system and Aramid fiber underbody protection.

Future projects coming up

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It seems that the volcano-scaling 911 sportscars are just a start. Walliser says, “Projects like this one are vital to who we are at Porsche. As they began their journey, the team literally aimed sky high. The first of what I hope will be many adventures.”

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