Today’s most powerful Porsche is electric—and we got a ride
The most powerful Porsche on the road or track today is the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance prototype. Built to show off what an unfettered electric race car can do, its performance is nothing short of thrilling. Porsche quotes up to 1,070 hp of output in qualifying mode, and a continuous 600 hp for the 30-minute duration of a Porsche Carrera Cup race.
I repeated the process to get in again, then buckled the five-point racing harness to press myself firmly into the unpadded seat shell. My legs stretched straight out in front of me, because one of the three sections of the unspecified-size battery pack occupies the entire footwell. First, this is absolutely a proper race car. I expected the rocket-ship straight-line acceleration; even some production EVs can knock out 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds or less. The upcoming 1,200-hp Lucid Air Sapphire promises 0-60 mph acceleration in 1.9 seconds, an almost unthinkable number for a large luxury sedan.
The GT4 ePerformance sounds a loud whine that soars in volume under power. Imagine a CGI electric jet fighter in a theater with the volume turned up to 11. The howl comes from the car’s two permanently excited magnet electric motors, drivetrain, and power electronics. A development-team engineer told Motor Authority the biggest culprit is the two single-speed transmissions between the motors and wheels that use straight-cut gears for maximum power.
Still, it will take a while for racetrack owners to decide they want to accommodate EV racing, said Thomas Laudenbach, head of Porsche Motorsports. The electrical infrastructure to provide even a couple of dozen vehicles with simultaneous DC fast-charging is substantial and costly.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron, 2025 Porsche 718 EV: This Week's Top PhotosAudi's updated E-Tron, Porsche's electric sports car, and Volvo's new EX90 all made headlines this week.
Read more »
Porsche's 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance Race Car Is One Heart-Pounding EVThe 1073-hp electric prototype is brutally quick and provides the sonic thrill many EVs lack.
Read more »
2024 Porsche Macan EV to bring 603bhp and 100kWh battery | AutocarThe 2024 Porsche Macan EV is the German marque's first electric SUV, offering up to 603bhp, a 100kWh battery and the Jaguar I-Pace firmly in its sights 👀
Read more »
Opinion: Electric SUVs are good news for Porsche fans | AutocarCould electric SUVs from Porsche be good news for car enthusiasts? Read as Autocar's charliejmartin_ delivers his verdict:
Read more »
The Electric 2024 Porsche Macan: The Inside Scoop (Literally)Porsche's PPE platform is how the company plans to take the fight to Tesla, BMW, and more.
Read more »
Porsche Macan EV Set To Be The Sportiest SUV Of Its Class With 595 HP | CarscoopsPorsche Macan EV Set To Be The Sportiest SUV Of Its Class With 595 HP | Carscoops carscoops
Read more »