Latest news with #PorscheFormulaE
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Richard Hammond drives Porsche Cayenne EV prototype
The days when automakers hid their camouflaged prototypes from the public are long gone. Last month, a prototype of the forthcoming electric Porsche Cayenne was entered in the Shelsley Walsh hill climb in the United Kingdom-and set a record. Now Porsche has revealed that the stunt was documented in a film shoot with former Top Gear and The Grand Tour host Richard Hammond. Hammond, who once rolled a Vauxhall Nova hatchback at Shelsley Walsh as part of a Top Gear episode, was given the Cayenne EV prototype for a quick review that was Sunday on the DriveTribe YouTube channel. The video is a little light on details, though, as the Cayenne Electric (as Porsche calls it) isn't scheduled to start deliveries until 2026, likely making it a 2027 model in the United States. One detail Porsche was willing to reveal was a maximum towing capacity of 7,716 pounds-the same as the current internal-combustion Cayenne. Hammond demonstrated that by towing a vintage Lagonda, estimated to weigh about 4,000 pounds with its trailer. Not surprisingly for a Porsche-sanctioned video, the Cayenne Electric prototype didn't seem to have any trouble with this task. Porsche also promises more power than any current Cayenne model, Hammond says in the video. That means it will exceed the 729 horsepower of the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid. Electric models will also be available with the Porsche Active Ride anti-roll system previously seen in the Taycan and Panamera. For the hill-climb runs, Hammond handed the Cayenne over to Gabriela Jílková, simulator and development driver for the Porsche Formula E team. Jílková covered the 1,000-yard course, which climbs a 16.7% grade, in 31.28 seconds, beating the previous SUV record by more than four seconds. She also covered the first 60 yards in 1.94 seconds, a time normally achievable only with purpose-built single-seaters on slick tires, Porsche claims. The Cayenne prototype ran on summer road tires. Porsche plans to bring the camouflaged prototype to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this month, but the automaker hasn't said when the camo will finally come off. When that time comes, the Cayenne Electric will take its place alongside standard gasoline and plug-in hybrid Cayenne models. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Porsche Teases Cayenne EV at Historic Hill Climb Ahead of Reveal
Porsche brought a camouflaged prototype of the Cayenne Electric to a historic English hill climb, giving us a clearer look at its smooth bodywork. The Cayenne Electric will be fitted with Porsche Active Ride, which keeps the body level when blasting through corners or braking hard. Porsche also said the Cayenne Electric will be able to tow up to 7716 pounds. Porsche has been hard at work on an electric version of its popular Cayenne SUV, which is expected to arrive at some point in 2026 and will exist alongside the gas-powered Cayenne for the time being. Now, Porsche has shared the first official look at the Cayenne EV, taking the electric SUV to the long-running Shelsley Walsh hill climb in England and publishing a series of photos of the new EV in camouflage. Porsche The Shelsley Walsh hill climb has been running since 1905, and Porsche brought the Cayenne Electric prototype to compete in the historic event with Porsche Formula E development driver Gabriela Jílková behind the wheel. Porsche described the prototype as "near-production," suggesting that the bodywork is basically in its final form. The Cayenne Electric sports classic Porsche styling, with a large grille in the lower bumper and high-mounted headlights. The rounded body concludes with chunky rectangular taillights and a slight slope to the roofline. The automaker says Jílková beat the previous record time for an SUV by over four seconds in her first run up the hill and divulged a few key details about the Cayenne Electric that helped it scoot up the incline with ease. One is Porsche Active Ride, the brand's trick suspension system that keeps the body level during acceleration, steering, and braking. Porsche also promises a potent powertrain, noting that the summer-tire-shod Cayenne Electric covered the first 180 feet in 1.94 seconds, which it says is a result typically reserved for single-seat race cars on slick tires at the event. Porsche As part of a film project tied to the hill climb, former Top Gear and Grand Tour host Richard Hammond used the Cayenne Electric to haul a century-old Lagonda, with Porsche claiming a towing capacity for the EV of up to 7716 pounds. Porsche confirmed that the Cayenne Electric and standard Cayenne—which is offered with gas-only and hybrid powertrains—will be sold together "well into the next decade." The camo'd Cayenne Electric will make its next appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this week, and we expect a full debut either late this year or early next year. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Le Mans debut for Pascal Wehrlein in the Porsche 963
Porsche Formula E factory drivers to compete in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans Le Mans 2024: Porsche 963 Pascal Wehrlein (DEU), Porsche Penske Motorsport (#4) Atlanta., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Porsche factory driver Pascal Wehrlein will make his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14-15, 2025. The reigning Formula E World Champion from Germany will complete the Porsche Penske Motorsport driver lineup. Wehrlein will share the cockpit of the #4 Porsche 963 with Felipe Nasr from Brazil and Nick Tandy from Great Britain. Portuguese António Félix da Costa, also a full-time driver in the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, will compete in the LMP2 category, piloting an Oreca prototype in the highlight event of the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC season. Pascal Wehrlein to race a factory Porsche at Le Mans Nasr/Tandy/Wehrlein in Porsche Penske Motorsport's #4 entry Factory teammate António Félix da Costa competing in the LMP2 class Pascal Wehrlein is already familiar with the Porsche 963 from test sessions and his participation in the 24 Hours of Daytona in late January, where he bolstered the customer team JDC-Miller MotorSports. In June, the reigning Formula E World Champion and former DTM Champion will take the wheel of the hybrid prototype for Porsche Penske Motorsport in his Le Mans debut. He will share driving duties with seasoned factory teammates: Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, who recently won the two major North American endurance classics in Daytona and Sebring as full-time drivers in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. Nasr, a three-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titleholder, will be making his sixth start at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Tandy, who claimed overall victory with Porsche in 2015, brings extensive experience from twelve previous Le Mans appearances."The Porsche driver roster is absolutely top-tier and incredibly deep. It only makes sense to leverage our strong personnel from the Formula E factory team for the third Porsche Penske Motorsport entry at Le Mans," explains Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. "Pascal Wehrlein has fully convinced us with his performance in testing and his participation in the 24 Hours of Daytona. As the reigning Formula E World Champion, he has earned his Le Mans debut at the wheel of a Porsche 963. António Félix da Costa, making his seventh start in France, will undoubtedly be among the fastest LMP2 drivers once again.""Competing for Porsche Penske Motorsport at Le Mans is a dream come true for me. I`m looking forward to this major challenge because, unlike in Formula E, I have to share everything in the Porsche 963 that I would normally tailor specifically to myself: seating position, setup, strategy, and more," says Pascal Wehrlein, looking ahead to his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut. "Of course, I want to add major titles in other series to my Formula E World Championship victory, but my primary goal is to do a strong job for the team and learn as much as possible. Porsche has such an iconic motorsport heritage; I am extremely grateful for this opportunity."While Wehrlein will first need to acclimate himself to the unique demands of the Circuit des 24 Heures in June, his Formula E teammate António Félix da Costa is no stranger to the legendary endurance race. The Portuguese driver is set for his seventh Le Mans start. In 2022, he won the LMP2 class behind the wheel of an Oreca-Gibson. The following year, he took on the 24-hour challenge with a customer Porsche 963. "I am very happy to be back at Le Mans after one year absence," the 33-year-old said. "In my last LMP2 appearance, I won the class. That's my goal again this year. I can't wait to attack alongside my teammates in June."Porsche race cars at the 2025 24 Hours of Le MansHypercar Class (Porsche 963):#4 Porsche Penske Motorsport: Felipe Nasr (BRA) / Nick Tandy (GBR) / Pascal Wehrlein (DEU)#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport: Julien Andlauer (FRA) / Michael Christensen (DNK) / Mathieu Jaminet (FRA)#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport: Matt Campbell (AUS) / Kévin Estre (FRA) / Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)#99 Proton Competition: Neel Jani (SUI) / Nico Pino (CHL) / Nico Varrone (ARG)LMGT3 Class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):#85 Iron Dames: Rahel Frey (SUI) / Michelle Gatting (DNK) / Célia Martin (FRA)#90 Manthey: Antares Au (HKG) / Loek Hartog (NED) / Klaus Bachler (AUT)#91 Manthey 1st Phorm: Ryan Hardwick (USA) / Richard Lietz (AUT) / Riccardo Pera (ITA)Porsche in Formula EIn the 2024/2025 season, Porsche is contesting its sixth Formula E campaign. Alongside the factory-run TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, the U.S.-based customer team Andretti Formula E competes with the highly efficient Porsche 99X Electric of the latest GEN3 Evo generation. For the first time, a second Porsche customer team, Cupra Kiro, also participates, utilizing the previous-generation GEN3 technology in the 99X Electric. Porsche continues to gain valuable insights for its production sports cars through its Formula E endeavors. Attachments Le Mans 2024: Porsche 963 Pascal Wehrlein (DEU), Porsche Penske Motorsport (#4) CONTACT: Luke Vandezande Porsche Cars North America, Inc. +1 470.363.5001 Reece White Porsche Cars North America, Inc. +1 318.383.9426 reece@ in to access your portfolio
