Edith, the lighter and more maneuverable of the two custom off-road 911s on the expedition, was meticulously crafted alongside its counterpart, named Doris, by RD Limited, Dumas’ team, in partnership with Porsche.
Porsche
The expedition vehicles, based on the newest all-wheel-drive seven-speed manual 911s, were retrofitted with portal axles, akin to those found on robust military vehicles.
Portal axles are sophisticated off-road components that provide a significant increase in ground clearance. Unlike a conventional axle setup, which directly connects the transmission to the drive wheel, the portal axle incorporates a gear mechanism at the wheel hub, enabling the axle to be raised higher.
Allow me to sketch a simple diagram to better visualize this concept:
As you can see, with the portal axle setup, everything’s higher and further away from obstacles. Such a setup is uncommon, even with off-road vehicles, because it’s complex, heavy, and expensive. Andrew P. Collins
These innovative portal axles provided the Porsche team with a remarkable 13.7 inches of ground clearance, a substantial increase from the stock Carrera 4S’s 4.9 inches, along with a gear ratio reduction for precise low-speed throttle control.
Furthermore, the vehicles were equipped with underbody armoring crafted from Aramid fiber—an aromatic polyamide commonly used in firefighter gear and tactical body armor.
Additionally, the cars featured lightweight carbon fiber seats and omitted certain factory interior components to minimize weight.
The 443-pony 3.0-liter flat six was maintained in its original state, operating Mobil 1 lubricants and consuming HIF eFuel—artificial gasoline produced in Chile, derived from water and carbon dioxide. Porsche has put resources into this technology in a bid to sustain internal combustion vehicles in the future.
Even the 911s that aren’t labeled “Turbo” are now equipped with turbochargers, meaning the Carrera’s engine wouldn’t have experienced the harsh power decrease that a naturally aspirated engine would undergo at that elevation (typically around 3% for every 1,000 feet above sea level). Porsche tackled the Ojos del Salado location, situated over five miles above ground! The ambient temperature was cited as “hovering near 20 degrees below zero.” Whether that’s in Celsius or Fahrenheit, that’s intense.
Porsche
When compared to the pinnacle of this journey at 22,093 feet, the summit of the formidable Pikes Peak appears insignificant at 14,115 feet above sea level. Even Mount Kilimanjaro stands at 19,341 feet. Everest surpasses 29,000. The highest “roads” globally are at approximately 20,000 feet, with many akin to broad goat trails.
Porsche emphasized that their team “spent two weeks gradually adjusting to the altitudes, ascending incrementally each day.” Additionally: “The vehicles faced no such challenges—the standard systems on the 911s detected the thin air and adjusted the fueling accordingly, ensuring optimal performance.”
Edith, the frontline vehicle of Dumas, was also outfitted with a customized drive-by-wire system named Space Drive, designed and supplied by Schaeffler Group. Porsche describes it as “…able to handle the demanding and extreme conditions of the volcano and the terrain, providing accuracy and detailed feedback to enable Romain Dumas to position the car precisely wherever he.required it…
Drive-by-wire essentially indicates that instead of physical connections and bars linking the steering wheel to the vehicle’s front wheels, control is electronic. Theoretical benefits involve increased customization in responsiveness and variable steering ratios that adjust with velocity. This technology is recent but may soon start to show up in mass-produced vehicles—the Lexus RZ450e, for instance, will be among the initial production vehicles without a physical steering column.
In any case, hopefully the provided information offers ample context for you to truly admire this remarkable feat by Edith, Doris, Romain Dumas, and the diverse team of explorers. The team included representatives from Chile, France, Germany, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland backed by Porsche, HIF Global, Schaeffler Group, Mobil 1, BFGoodrich, and TAG Heuer. The record was officially set on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 3:58 p.m. local time. While I was lounging on my couch surrounded by chip crumbs, these individuals were ascending a 22,093-foot summit in a pair of Porsches.
The only aspect that slightly diminishes the excitement of this year’s automotive altitude record is that it appears quite similar to last year’s achievement—Porsche reached 19,708 feet with Mr. Dumas and the same vehicles in 2022. In fact, we could even revisit last year’s footage to capture the essence. Nevertheless, witnessing human endeavors to reach higher altitudes, go farther, and (literally) stake claims where no vehicle has ventured before continues to inspire me.
Porsche also holds the altitude record for electric vehicles, achieving a height of approximately 15,889 feet above sea level with a Taycan Cross Turismo in 2022.
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