Porsche has just released its most expensive model ever, and it has broken the record by a considerable amount. The German sports car maker couldn’t have tried to break their own record just for the sake of saying so, but they did it anyway and at a price well above their previous most expensive model-the Porsche RS Spyder LMP2-which sold for $1.5 million in 2008.
The new Porsche 963 is the company’s first consumer prototype in decades. Based on the 918 Spyder hybrid, the car is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine, powered by twin turbochargers and supported by an electric motor. All of this is transferred to the wheels via a 7-speed pneumatic racing transmission. The powertrain delivers up to 670 horsepower, while the car weighs just over 2,200 pounds.
The hybrid race car has also been designed with the environment in mind, with the added promise of renewable fuels, resulting in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. In terms of looks, Porsche says their new race car is based on the triumphant 956 and 962 classics of the 1980s and borrows other elements from the company’s history.
Porsche’s new car will bring the company that has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 19 times, the Rolex 24 Hours 18 times and the 12 Hours of Sebring 18 times back to the top of the endurance racing world. the 924 will make its official race debut at Daytona next January. If you can’t wait that long, then Porsche says everyone can catch a glimpse of the 924 at the FIA WEC season finale in Bahrain in November.
The Porsche 963 won’t be cheap
The new Porsche is not something you’re going to drive to the grocery store. It’s aimed at racing teams, or more specifically, teams that aim to compete in endurance races. The new 963 has already been sold to some lucky customers for a whopping $2.9 million – almost double what the Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 chassis was selling for when it was released. Porsche Penske Motorsport reportedly owns two of the original cars and will use them for the various races on the endurance racing calendar. Minnesota-based JDC-Miller Motorsports is the first confirmed buyer of the 963, with more high-profile racing companies expected to follow.
While the 963 is three times the price of Porsche’s most recent road-legal supercar, the 918 Spyder, $2.9 million still doesn’t get you everything, as spare parts and fuel can cost a small fortune. Porsche does offer a great care package though, as their North American President and CEO Volker Holzmeyer told the press – “As long as the customer is running, our service is always available, we will have spare parts on-site, engineering vehicles on-site, five, six, seven engineers, and we will now work with the fleet to find out out what they think they need. But that service is always there and it’s always free.”
