Portal-axled Porsche 911 sets altitude record

The Porsche 911 has a reputation as one of the toughest sports cars out there. You only need look at how many survive from the past 60 years of production – including cars like the incredible 996 of PHer poppopbangbang – for proof of that. They’re hardy old things, 911s. To prove the point (and to test some future tech) Porsche has sent a pair of 992s up a volcano in Chile, setting an altitude record for cars in the process. 

Romain Dumas was on driving duty, reaching 6,734m above sea level at the west ridge of the Ojos del Salado volcano in Chile. That surpasses a previous record of 6,694m, set in 2020, and is 1,934m higher than the summit of Mont Blanc. The cars (two manual Carrera 4Ses, named Doris and Edith) were running purely on eFuels created in Chile by HIF. (Porsche has its own integrated pilot plant for synthetic fuels also in Chile, at Punta Arenas). Presumably nothing quite shows off how suitable eFuels can be for any driving situation than charging up a volcano.

The 911s themselves are really cool, like a Dakar RS or something. The introduction of portal axles for the mountain mission probably made the biggest difference to both the look and the ability, with 350mm of ground clearance. Additional Aramid fibre underbody protection was there for when that ground clearance ran out. The entirely new axles also effectively reduced the gear ratios, which was said to be a benefit as it allowed for ‘precise, gentle throttle inputs at low speed’. 

Perhaps the most interesting modification was for Edith, the lead car that achieved the record, as it was fitted with steer by wire developed by Schaeffler Group. And to think some people still aren’t over EPAS. The system is called Space Drive, and Porsche says it offered ‘precision and detailed feedback to allow Romain Dumas to place the car precisely where he needed it’. This surely won’t be the last time we hear about the technology in a 911. 

The drive actually took two weeks, as the team allowed time to get used to the altitude (with air about half as dense) and temperature (which got down to minus 20). Even without too much snow, the challenge was described as ‘formidable’. Not that the car noticed much at all, reckons Porsche. Its press release suggests that Edith ‘had some new scars and a layer of thick volcanic dust, but was otherwise ready to perform the same feat all over again’. Don’t worry if you’ve hit a speed bump a bit hard recently, then. Clearly the clutch and gearbox of the manual is pretty strong, too. 

Romain Dumas added: “I’ll never forget this experience. It was an extraordinary feeling to drive where no car has gone before. The 911 managed to go higher than any other earthbound vehicle in history. We reached a point where we were met by the true summit of the west ridge – we could go no higher. So this really was the maximum altitude that can be achieved. A proud moment for the whole team – and we’re grateful for the support and belief of all of our partners, each of whom made this possible.” We look forward to the Sonderwunsch tribute build surely coming early in 2024…