Porsche is testing the Mission R engine by inserting it into the bodywork of a 718 Cayman GT4. This shows that the concept study shown at IAA 2021 it wasn’t just a “technological exercise” and that the unit is a real candidate for series production. The Zuffenhausen-based company is likely taking the next step to launch a fully electric 718 in the future.
At the IAA, Porsche unveiled the Mission R Concept as a vision of a fully electric GT racing vehicle for customer motorsport. From the start, however, there were also indications that the engine would be introduced in the purely electric 718, which Porsche wanted to launch as early as 2023.
Porsche calls the Mission R test vehicle “718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance”, so the last part of the name highlights the electric drive, but also a changed look. However, the chassis is taken from the 718 GT4 Clubsport.
The silhouette of the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is created by a team from the Porsche Style division, under the direction of designer Grant Larson. The race car is 14 centimeters wider than the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport and contains around 6,000 newly designed parts.
In simulated races, 450 kW are constantly available for 30 minutes: This so-called time-limited power is a standard specification for electric cars. Furthermore, 30 minutes correspond to the duration of a Carrera Cup race, as Porsche writes. In terms of lap performance and top speed, the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is based on the 911 GT3 Cup of the current 992 generation.
Porsche Mission R debuts oil cooling for batteries and engines
Instead of the six-cylinder power unit, Porsche therefore installed the electric motors and battery of the concept studio. According to the press release released by Porsche at the IAA, it is a 320 kW engine at the front and a 480 kW engine at the rear. At that time, the manufacturer specified the system power up to 800 kW (in qualification mode), the continuous power should be 500 kW. Now Porsche talks about maximum performance in qualifying mode of “735 kW and more ”.
Porsche also provides new details on the Mission R transmission. Unsurprisingly, it is made up of two permanently active synchronous machines (PSMs). A special feature is apparently the direct oil cooling of the electric motors and the battery pack developed by Porsche. In fact, electric cars are generally water-cooled (with multiple circuits for battery, inverter, motors, etc.).
According to Porsche, oil cooling is particularly effective against derating, which is the decrease in performance due to the increase in the temperature of the battery and motors. “The integration of oil cooling had a significant impact on the vehicle concept”, says GT4 ePerformance project manager Björn Förster.
Finally, it should be emphasized that, thanks to the 900 volt technology, the state of charge (SoC) of the battery at full charge capacity it goes from 5 to 80% in about 15 minutes.