etherealtemptat: Porsche makes 911 GT3 R Hybrid v2.0 lighter, more efficient

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Porsche makes 911 GT3 R Hybrid v2.0 lighter, more efficient

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Porsche, Racing

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid v2.0 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche has pulled back the curtain on the second version of its 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car. The German automaker has managed to reduce the electrified racer's weight by 20 percent, mostly by toying with the hybrid drivetrain.

Two electric motors mated to a portal axle spin the front wheels with up to 200 horsepower for a few seconds at a time. That's in addition to the 470 horsepower on tap from the flat six-cylinder internal combustion engine mounted out back. Thanks to data collected during the previous generation 911 GT3 R Hybrid's time on track, which was extensive, engineers were also able to reconfigure the vehicle's high-voltage components.

Doing so allowed for the deletion of those massive air intakes on the rear fenders of the old body (right, at last year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring). The new skin is significantly more aerodynamic and helps deliver increased fuel economy as a result. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid still uses an electric flywheel accumulator, though it and the rest of the hybrid kit is now stored in a carbon-fiber safety cell on the passenger side of the cabin.

Porsche plans to campaign the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 at various race events throughout the year, just like it did with the first car, starting with the Nürburgring 24 in June. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0