The concept was developed last year and will be seen in action at Goodwood Festival of Speed.
There is no turning back now. Regardless of whether it’s our choice, the future of Porsche’s small sports car is electric. The 718 lineup will be without its internal combustion engine by 2025 and transformed into an electric vehicle. Although the announcement was made in March, the signs were already there since September last year when Mission R arrived at IAA Munich in Germany. Now, the concept is a working prototype called 718 Cayman GT4 EPerformance.
Similar to the 2021 Mission R before it, the test vehicle borrows its chassis form the track-only 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. In qualification mode, the electric motor and battery pack were derived from last year’s concept. The “baby Porsche”, therefore, has a maximum power output of 986 horsepower (735kilowatts). The motor produces a steady 603 horsepower (450 kW), for 30 minutes, or the duration of a Carrera Cup racing race.
Porsche conducted a performance analysis that showed that the electric car’s lap times were nearly the same as the 911 GT3 Cup. Dual-motor 718 Cayman GT4 GT4 ePerformance can charge the battery between 5 and 80 percent in just 15 minutes. Although it is based on an existing car model, approximately 6,000 parts were needed to make the electric racer. It measures 14 cm (5.5 inches) in width.
The electric racer rides on 18-inch Michelin race tires that are largely made from renewable materials. It has an eco-friendly body because it uses natural fiber composites to reduce emissions. Porsche used recycled carbon fibers as a way to demonstrate that even race cars can be sustainable.
In three years, the next production version of the 718 Cayman GT4 will be available. The first Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 GT4 ePerformance will take place in June. Porsche will take the sporty EV to Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will climb the famous hill. The itinerary includes a visit to the Porsche factory in Leipzig on Aug 20 for the 20th anniversary.
Two machines that emit zero emissions will be sent to Europe to visit various locations before arriving in North America in the first half of 2023. After visiting countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the world tour will end around the middle of 2024.
The road-going Cayman GT4 RS does not mean the end for the ICE-powered 718 families. Porsche is planning an identical Boxster Spyder RS.
