Well, this is definitely interesting: after revealing through the voice of its CEO that no hybrid sportscars will appear from its brand, Porsche has just presented the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, which will enter the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance competition in May.
The track-only race car, which will be formally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, will feature a regular 480 HP 4.0-liter flat-six engine, that will power the rear wheels, and two electric motors, that can drive the front ones.
Don’t go thinking that the Porsche will stop to have its battery recharged during the endurance race, as the motors will be powered by a flywheel, that can spin up to 40,000 rpm, and will only use a KERS (Kinetic Energy Regeneration System), in order to recycle the energy generated when the brakes are engaged.
This power will be stored inside the motors, and used, via a special button on the dash, by the driver during the race, to let loose a combined output of 160 HP which will be more than welcomed when engaged in an overtake maneuver for example.
The car is thought of by Porsche as a “racing laboratory”, which will provide vital information to its engineers, and might spark a more refined edition in 2012, when the Le Mans regulations might be changed to allow hybrid models onto the track.
What say you about this first hybrid Porsche GT3 R? Good or bad? You be the judge.
Source: Porsche
Post tags: Tags: Hybrid, Porsche, porsche 911, porsche 911 gt3, porsche 911 gt3 r, porsche 911 gt3 r hybrid
