A slalom is a driving exercise where you pilot a car in between cones as fast as you can. It seems easy enough swinging the car left and right but to do it at speed requires judgement so you don’t hit the cones and also managing the speed so you don’t slide out.
Recently, a 16-year old driver, Chloe Chambers, set a new world record for driving through a slalom with a time of 47.45 seconds. The time, officially recognised by the Guinness World Records organisation as the Fastest Vehicle Slalom, beat a previous record of 48.114 seconds set in China with a Chevrolet Camaro in 2018.
Chloe, who has been driving since she was 11 and races go-karts, set the record in a standard Porsche 718 Spyder with a manual gearbox and standard tyres. It’s not surprising that she was able to do so well as karters do require sharp skills and quick reflexes.
50 cones 15.2 metres apart
The slalom consisted of 50 cones laid in a straight line 50 feet (15.2 metres) apart over a distance of 2, 500 feet (762 metres) at a small airport in New Jersey, USA. Her record time of 47.45 seconds would mean her average speed from start to finish was around 58 km/h.
“It looks easy, but it’s really not – to weave between 50 cones as fast as possible, trying to beat a record time and knowing I couldn’t touch a single one for the run to count – I definitely felt the pressure,” she said. “Everything came together on my final run; the car worked beautifully, and I found the grip I needed. Thank you to my family and to Porsche for supporting and believing in me.”
PASM and PSM help
The driving dynamics and driver assist technologies would also have helped, especially the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. This is an electronic damping control system, which continuously adjusts the damping force on each wheel, based on current road conditions and driving style. In enhancing performance, it increases driving stability which would certainly help as the car swerves left and right at high speed.
The other helpful system is Porsche Stability Management. Also an electronic control system, it uses sensors to continuously monitor the direction, speed, yaw velocity and lateral acceleration of the car. It also maximizes grip when accelerating on inconsistent road surfaces.
The 718 Spyder that Chloe drove had a 4-litre naturally aspirated boxer 6-cylinder engine producing 414 bhp at 8,000 rpm. It has helper springs on the rear axle and a ride height that is 30 mm lower than a standard 718 Boxster or Cayman, making it ideal for slaloms.
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Four years into its product cycle, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder share a technical base for the first time. This only model line from the sportscar maker that has a mid-engine layout and comes with a naturally aspirated flat-six engine as well as a 6-speed manual transmission that enthusiasts love. The prices of the new 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder start from RM999,000 and RM970,000, respectively.
Featuring a completely redesigned 4-litre 6-cylinder boxer engine based on the same turbocharged engine family in the 911 Carrera series, these new members of the 718 family have a significant increase in power compared to its predecessors – 35 bhp and 45 bhp more for the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder, respectively. With a maximum torque of 420 Nm between 5000 and 6800 rpm, the cars can accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds from a standing still, with top speeds that beyond 300 km/h, it is claimed.
New additions include as adaptive cylinder control. In part-load operation, it temporarily interrupts the injection process in one of the two cylinder banks, thus reducing fuel consumption. For the first time ever in a high-revving engine, piezo injectors are used for direct fuel injection. Each injection process is split into 5 individual injections to support a complete combustion process, making it emissions-friendly. A variable intake system with two resonance valves ensures optimum gas exchange in the cylinders.
The 718 Cayman GT4
The bodywork has been ‘tuned’ to produce up to 50% more downforce. Sometimes more downforce can create additional drag, but this is said to not be the case with the Cayman GT4. The comprehensively improved aerodynamics concept benefits enormously from the newly designed single-chamber arch rear silencer. This creates space in the rear section for a functional diffuser, which accounts for a good 30% of the downforce at the rear axle.
The front section, which is optimised in the GT style, maintains the aerodynamic balance with a large front spoiler lip and so-called air curtains. The fixed rear wing also generates about 20% more downforce compared with its predecessor. This corresponds to an additional downforce of 12 kgs – for a total of around 70 kgs – at 200 km/h.
The 718 Spyder
The new 718 Spyder is offer topless motoring but without the disadvantages that not having a roof causes. In fact, with the latest aerodynamic tuning, the 718 Spyder slips through the air more efficiently as well as generating more downforce. At the front, the new honeycomb air intake grilles have been designed to increase airflow by reducing obstructions.
The distinctive front spoiler lip with recessed ‘Spyder’ lettering and the central air intake in the front end directs the air upwards through the air outlet opening in front of the front lid to assist in reducing lift at the front axle.
This is further complemented by the golf-ball like profiled surface below the front end to maintain a constantly low drag coefficient. Unlike the GT4, the 718 Spyder possesses a distinctive rear spoiler that automatically extends at speeds over 120 km/h, which helps to reduce lift for more driving stability. Thanks to the functional diffuser, it is the first model in the Boxster family to generate aerodynamic downforce at the rear axle.
High-performance GT chassis
For the first time ever, the 718 Spyder rides on the same GT chassis as the 718 Cayman GT4. An ideal foundation for maximum performance, its further refined lightweight spring-strut front and rear axles make use of racing technologies.
The direct connection to the chassis is partially by means of ball joints ensuring a firm connection of the chassis to the body, resulting in precise, sharper and direct driving behaviour. The height, camber, toe angle and the anti-roll bars of the chassis for the Cayman GT4 can be adjusted to the demands of each individual racetrack.
The Porsche Active Suspension Management damping system with sports set-up and 30 mm suspension as standard, brings the centre of gravity of these models significantly closer to the ground and improves lateral dynamics.
The Porsche Stability Management system now operates with even greater sensitivity and precision. A skilled driver can optionally deactivate it for sportier handling. Also present is Porsche Torque Vectoring with a mechanical rear differential lock that enhances the longitudinal and lateral dynamics, enabling a driver to take corners more confidently.
The latest 718 Spyder runs on ultra-high-performance tyres specially adapted by Porsche. These road-approved sports tyres are complemented by a high-performance brake system that is suitable for track driving. The large aluminium monobloc fixed-caliper brakes are internally ventilated and perforated for optimum cooling. For those who want the ultimate in stopping (or deceleration) performance, there is the optionally-available Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake system.
And finally, the new sports exhaust system with two separated black tailpipes. This has even more powerful sportscar sound which is available with the press of a button.
Performance-oriented interior design
The sportiness of the exterior is mirrored in the cabin with the familiar Porsche cues visible all around. The instrument cluster has an analogue tachometer in the centre, emphasising the racing heritage of Porsches. Decorative trims in brushed aluminium and decorative stitching provide visual contrasts whilst the puristic door-pull loops are a classic touch.
Optional packages available
The 718 Cayman GT4 can be equipped with the optional Clubsport package. With its components derived from professional motorsport, the Clubsport package provides additional protection on the racetrack. This includes a rear steel roll bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and a 6-point seatbelt on the driver’s side.
The optional Spyder Classic interior package lends an extravagant look to the interior while also being reminiscent of historic racing cars. The two-tone leather interior in Bordeaux Red/Black gives an especially unique and high quality look and feel to the entire interior of the 718 Spyder.
Tonight (Thursday) at 8 pm, Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) will be premiering the most powerful members of the Porsche 718 family. The presentation of the powerful mid-engine performance GT models will be via a digital premiere on the Porsche dealer website platforms.
About the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder
For the first time, these two particularly emotional and powerful top models that claim the top spot in the 718 model series share the same technical base. While both these models possess fundamentally different concepts and characteristics, they both offer performance and driving experiences that only a thoroughbred mid-engine sportscar can offer.
Set your reminders for 8 pm and watch the online broadcast at the following Porsche dealer websites listed below:
The Porsche 718 family is proud to announce their latest additions into their ever-growing line-up which are the Porsche 718 Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4. These two new variants sit on the very top of the model series that offer superior agility and ultimate driving experience for those who seek driving bliss. (more…)
