The Porsche 919 originally debuted at the 6 hours of Silverstone in 2014 and finished third. The 919 is a quintessential racecar with something extra, built for speed and endurance and some views it as the most beautiful Porsche ever built. Porsche reworked and adjusted the 919 to battle its way to the top spot and take home first place at LeMans and the remaining five races of the season. Porsche took everything it excels at and placed it in this car. It is a tribute to Porsche’s innovation and engineering mastery.
The Porsche 919 Model
Porsche took home the title at the 2016 World Endurance Championship. They are upping the ante for 2017 with the 919 hybrid model. Porsche is determined to defend their title and has taken the 919 hybrid to another level. While the 2017 offering looks similar to last year’s predecessor, Porsche has reworked and redesigned approximately 60% – 70% of the vehicle and introduced new aerodynamic packages. One of which is a specifically redesigned aerokit to address long straightaways and another which is customized to tight, twisty courses. Powertrain upgrades and energy dispersion help make this car the most exciting to watch, yet. The engine is responsible for powering the rear wheels only while the lithium battery provides power to an electric motor on the front axle. Along with the new changes comes a new nose and the biggest headlights Porsche has ever used. Porsche Previous models suffered from spent rubber and debris on the track. The improved design doesn’t miss a beat.
Racing regulations play an important part of any car design, and the 919 hybrid is no exception. Lemans put in place rules to slow down cars around the corners while the World Endurance Championship encourages teams to push the limits. Porsche designed the 919 hybrid to tackle both. Initial races became important proving grounds with Porsche making necessary tweaks and adjustments after all of them. Car number 14 suffered from a false alarm which turned the hybrid system off altogether, while initial LeMans testing suffered from understeering. Further testing led to both 919’s catching fire while in the pit causing concern. It was later discovered the flexing engine cover and turbocharger were too close together, causing a small fire. Despite these minor setbacks and adjustments, or perhaps because of them, the 919 became an exquisite force to be reckoned with.
Porsche 919 Engine
The 919 Porsche hybrid originally hit the track in June 2013 but the engine has been overhauled and redesigned many times since then. The original design suffered an engine vibration issue which caused breaks in the suspension. This along with many other things have been corrected since. The hybrid features a V4 turbo which works in perfect harmony with the rest of the vehicle. The engine feeds the rear axle which in turn powers the exhaust recovery system that helps the cars hybrid system. Another part of the hybrid is the lithium batteries which hold and store excess energy recovered from the front axle brakes or the exhaust system. One of the things that sets the 919 hybrid apart is the use of two turbines in the exhaust system. One turbine is linked to the compressor while the second is linked to an electric motor, not the other turbine or a compressor. This allows the second turbine to fully recover any expended energy when the vehicle is running. Energy is stored in the lithium batteries provided by A123 systems. Porsche has only released one photo of the 919 hybrid engine and it’s beautiful. It’s also certain that changes and adjustments have already been made so to truly be able to appreciate everything this engine has to offer, you have to drive it.
Porsche 919 Top Speed
Porsche describes the 919 hybrid vehicle type as a LeMans Prototype class LMP1. It is constructed with composite fiber made up of carbon fibers and honeycomb aluminum core, all to create a beautifully designed vehicle that thirsts for speed. The energy generator unit or EGU on the front axle, 7 speed racing transmission and sliding tripod, universal joints drive train all help the 919 hybrid deliver while still weighing less than 2000 lbs. The V4 2 liter turbocharged hybrid engine and design that allows for no energy lost create a top speed of greater than 211 miles per hour and 400 horsepower. When WEC racing regulations were adjusted, limited teams to 3 sets of tires for the entire weekend, Porsche responded. The hybrid management system and adjustments to traction control have been implemented specifically to make tires last longer.
The 919 brings Porsche back to its true identity. While the prettier, more polished Cayenne’s and 911’s of the Porsche family give the Porsche name its refined and sophisticated reputation; the 919 brings it back to its raw, racing roots. The superb design and incredible thought behind the 919 have created a monster of a race car and a thing of beauty.
If you’re considering to buy Porsche 919, call Turbokraft. Everything you need to know about Porsche 919 from why it was built, engine make up, and top speed, their porsche specialist will be happy to assist you.
