Porsche reveals ballistic 735kW Cayman EV

PORSCHE has commenced prototype testing of technology from its Mission R electric racer, which it has built into the body of a 718 Cayman.

 

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance incorporates the driveline and battery pack from the Mission R within the body shell of the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport – it transfers a mind-bending 735kW of power to all four wheels in “qualification mode”.

 

In regular competition, Porsche says a “steady 450kW is available for 30 minutes” – just enough to complete a Carrera Cup race. The Zuffenhausen-based firm says the lap times and top speed of its 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance are “on par with the performance of the current 992-generation 911 GT3 Cup car”.

 

Thanks to 900V technology, the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance’s battery pack can be replenished from five to 80 per cent in “about 15 minutes” via DC fast-charging.

 

“With the Mission R, we’ve shown how Porsche envisages sustainable customer motor racing in the future,” said Porsche GT racing vehicle project manager, Matthias Schloz.

 

“The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance now demonstrates that this vision works impressively on the racetrack.

 

“We’re very excited about the response because a one-make cup with electric racing cars would be an important addition to our existing customer racing programme.”

 

Like with the Mission R, the fully electric drivetrain of the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is based on a permanently excited synchronous machine (PESM) on the front and rear axles. Together, they turn the racing car into an all-wheel-drive juggernaut that can deliver a peak output of up to 800kW. The direct oil cooling of the e-motors and battery pack (developed by Porsche) counteracts thermally induced derating.

 

“The integration of oil cooling has significantly impacted the vehicle concept,” said Porsche GT4 ePerformance project manager, Björn Förster.

 

“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.”

 

The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance was designed by a team led by Grant Larson, who designed the original Porsche Boxster concept. The team widened the bodywork of the donor vehicle by 140mm to accommodate 18-inch Michelin race tyres. The wider fender flares and body panels incorporate renewable materials such as natural-fibre composites and recycled carbon-fibre, Porsche says.

 

Approximately 6000 of the prototype’s components were made from scratch.

 

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (23-26 June 2022) before heading to Porsche’s factory in Leipzig in August for the facility’s 20th anniversary. From there, the model will tour several European countries before heading to North America in 2023 and Asia in 2024.

 

Porsche says that 80 per cent of all its vehicle sales will be electric by the end of the decade.