Porsche Global Archives

New Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Features Natural-Fibre Body Parts

Three years after the premiere of the first Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Porsche now unveils its successor: The new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport represents a consequent further development of the successful model from Weissach. For the first time, the near-standard mid-engine racer comes in two versions ex-works: the “Trackday” model for ambitious amateur racing drivers and the “Competition” variant for national and international motor racing.

In developing the new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the focus was put not only on further improved driveability and faster lap times but also on the sustainable use of raw materials. The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is the first ever production race car to feature body parts made of natural-fibre composite material. The driver and co-driver doors and the rear wing are made of an organic fibre mix, which are sourced primarily from agricultural by-products such as flax or hemp fibres and feature similar properties to carbon fibre in terms of weight and stiffness.

Powering the 718 GT4 Clubsport is a 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 313 kW (425 hp). Compared to its predecessor, this represents a 40-hp increase in performance. The power is transferred to the rear wheels via a Porsche dual-clutch gearbox with six gears and mechanical rear axle differential lock. The lightweight spring-strut front suspension is taken from its big 911 GT3 Cup brother. The impressive racing brake system features steel brake discs all round measuring 380 millimetres in diameter. Tipping the scales at 1,320 kilograms, the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, delivered ex-works with a welded-in safety cage, a racing bucket seat as well as a six-point harness, is a real lightweight.

The basis “Trackday” version is aimed at amateur drivers who want to take part in private track and clubsport events without major effort and outlay. The vehicle features a fixed shock absorber setup. The ABS, ESC and traction control assistance systems ensure forgiving handling at the limit and can be deactivated. Also delivered ex-works is the air-conditioning system, a rescue hatch in the roof, a handheld fire-extinguisher and an 80-litre FT3 safety fuel cell. The non-road-homologated vehicle can be serviced at all Porsche Centres.

The “Competition” model features a raft of details relevant for racing. The shock absorbers can be adjusted in three stages. The safety fuel tank with a capacity of 115 litres is suitable for long-distance events. Thanks to a brake balance system, the balance bias can be infinitely adjusted between the front and rear axle. An integrated air jack system guarantees fast pit stops. The quick-release racing steering wheel adopted from the 911 GT3 R ensures a range of adjustment options for the individual needs of the drivers. An automatic fire extinguishing system adds another safety feature for the racetrack.

“The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport possesses significantly more racing genes than its successful predecessor,” says Porsche’s head of motorsport Fritz Enzinger. “The power of the engine has increased considerably. At the same time, we were able to increase the downforce and the cockpit is now even better suited to drivers’ needs. I’m confident that we can build on the excellent sales figures of the predecessor, of which we have delivered 421 cars.”

Technical description Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport (Type 982)

Concept
• Single-seater, near-standard production-based race car, not road homologated

Engine
• Aluminium six-cylinder mid-positioned boxer engine with rigid mounting
• 3,800 cc; stroke 77.5 mm, bore 102 mm
• Max. power: 313 kW (425 hp) at 7,500 rpm
• Max. rpm: 7,800 rpm
• Max. torque: 425 Nm at 6,600 rpm
• Compression ratio: 12.5:1
• Racing optimised water cooling with thermal management for engine and gearbox
• Four-valve technology with adjustable camshaft phasing and variable valve timing VarioCam Plus
• Fuel quality: Super Plus unleaded, minimum 98 octane
• Racing optimised electronic engine management (Continental SDI 9)
• Integrated dry sump lubrication
• 100-cell metal catalytic converter complying with DMSB specifications

Transmission
• Rear wheel drive
• 6-speed PDK gearbox with rigid suspension and electronic control unit optimised for racing
• Reinforced dual mass flywheel
• Internal pressure oil lubrication with active oil cooling
• Differential lock optimised for racing

TECH: Porsche Concept Study “Mission E Cross Turismo” Goes Into Series Production

The second electric Porsche from Zuffenhausen is going into series production! At a meeting on 18 October, the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG gave the green light for series production of the concept study Mission E Cross Turismo. The sports car manufacturer will create 300 additional jobs at its headquarters in Zuffenhausen for production of the vehicle, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show 2018.

The road-ready concept study Mission E Cross Turismo was a highlight in Geneva and was well received by both visitors to the show and the media. The four-door Cross Turismo has an 800-volt architecture and is prepared for connection to the fast charging network. It has a system output of 600 hp and a range of 500 km (NEDC). The vehicle is a derivative of the Taycan.

The first purely electric Porsche will be launched on the market in 2019. The introduction of the Taycan is generating 1,200 new jobs in Zuffenhausen. Great importance is attached to sustainability in production, which will therefore be carbon-neutral. Porsche plans to invest more than 6 billion euros in electromobility by 2022.

Porsche Achieves Growth In Revenue & Operating Result For 2018

Thanks to a strong third quarter, Porsche AG once again increased its operating result, revenue, deliveries and number of employees in the first nine months of 2018. The operating result compared with the same period in the previous year grew by around 11 per cent to 3.3 billion euros, with revenue increasing by 12 per cent to 19.1 billion euros. The return on sales was 17.4 percent. Deliveries grew by six percent, with the company handing over 196,562 vehicles to customers by the end of September. The workforce grew around eight per cent to reach 31,753 employees.

“The Panamera and our icon, the 911, enjoyed a particularly noticeable increase in demand,” says Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche AG (above). “Behind all of this is our strong workforce, which is expanding towards a record level of 32,000 total employees. Around a quarter of the 1,200 jobs for our first purely electric sports car, the Taycan, have already been filled. Now that the Supervisory Board has given the green light for the Taycan Cross Turismo – the series-production version of our second electric sports car – we plan to take on an additional 300 people,” adds Blume.

According to Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board, Finance and IT at Porsche (above), the result for the third quarter is attributable in particular to positive mix effects and increased volume. A negative impact was caused by unfavourable currency fluctuations and high investments in electrification, as well as the development of new business fields.

“This result gives us momentum for the year-end sprint, which will be very challenging for us,” says Meschke. “In addition to economic and political uncertainties, we also have to deal with the changeover to the new WLTP test cycle and gasoline particulate filters, as well as the farewell to diesel.” The new emissions legislation has been in force in Europe since 1 September. As part of the changeover, the new models will be introduced in stages, resulting in a temporary restriction of the product range.

Porsche recorded particularly strong growth in deliveries in Europe in the first nine months of 2018, with an increase of nine percent to 66,551 units. Overall, the sports car manufacturer increased deliveries by six percent to 196,562 vehicles. In Germany alone, deliveries increased by 13 percent to 24,709 vehicles. Growth in China, the largest single market of Porsche, was also up four percent with 56,254 vehicles delivered.

In terms of the model ranges, the Panamera showed the largest percentage increase: up to the end of September, deliveries of the four-door sports car increased by 60 percent. In Europe, more than 60 percent of these vehicles were equipped with a plug-in hybrid drive. The 911 also saw double-digit growth with an increase of 19 percent. The highest-volume model ranges remain the Macan with 68,050 delivered vehicles and the Cayenne with 49,715 units.

Porsche expects deliveries for 2018 as a whole to reach the record level of the previous year again; in 2017, the sports car manufacturer delivered 246,375 vehicles to customers. Despite the major challenges in the fourth quarter, the company expects an increase in revenue for the 2018 fiscal year compared with the previous year due to improved mix effects. The aim is to achieve a stable operating result compared with the previous year. The strategic goal of an operating return on sales of 15 percent remains unchanged.

Porsche Global – Vehicle deliveries In 2018: A Clear Increase After Nine Months! [+New Macan Video]

Positive development over the course of the year: Porsche AG increased its vehicle deliveries by six percent to 196,562 vehicles in the first nine months of 2018. The performance of the Sports Car manufacturer was particularly strong in Europe: the growth here was 9% to 66,551 units. In Germany alone, deliveries increased by 13 percent to 24,709 vehicles. Growth in China, the largest single market of Porsche, was also four percent with 56,254 vehicles delivered. In the model ranges, the Panamera showed the largest percentage increase: up to the end of September, deliveries of the four-door Sports Car increased by 60 percent. The 911 also saw double-digit growth with a plus of 19 percent. The highest-volume model ranges remain the Macan (see below) with 68,050 delivered vehicles and the Cayenne with 49,715 units.

“In Germany and Europe overall, our attractive product range meant that we were very well positioned to meet the strong demand for our Sports Cars in the first nine months,” says Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing. “We are also extremely satisfied with our growth rates in the USA and China. There are a number of significant challenges that await us in the fourth quarter, and we will take proactive steps to ensure that we face up to them successfully. This includes the changeover to the new WLTP test cycle and petrol particulate filters and the farewell to diesel engines,” says von Platen.

The new emissions legislation has been in force in Europe since 1st September. The launch of new models will be staggered after the changeover. At Porsche, this will start with models from the two-door 911 and 718 Sports Car series as well as the new Macan (above & below), which was presented at the Paris Motor Show last week. Porsche has not had any diesel models in its product range since the middle of February 2018. At the end of September, the Executive Board took the final decision to no longer offer any diesel-powered vehicles in future.

At the same time, Porsche is experiencing a great increase in customer interest in hybrid models. For example, more than 60 percent of vehicles from the Panamera model range were delivered with plug-in hybrid drive in Europe. In spite of the challenges, Detlev von Platen, the Member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales, assumes that Porsche will again achieve the record of last year when 246,375 vehicles were delivered to customers.

PORSCHE AG Vehicle deliveries	January – September
PORSCHE AG Vehicle deliveries	2017	2018	Difference (%)
World	185,898	196,562	+6%
Europe	60,838	66,551	+9%
Germany	21,880	24,709	+13%
America	50,386	52,417	+4%
USA	41,237	42,626	+3%
Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East	74,674	77,594	+4%
China	54,090	56,254	+4%