This past weekend, the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, was the venue for the annual Porsche Rennsport Reunion. An estimated 60,000 Porsche fans attended to experience the largest gathering of vintage and modern Porsche race cars around.
A number of aftermarket vendors were on hand to showcase their wares, one of which was tuning company Vonnen promoting its hybrid upgrade for all Porsche 991 and 2012-on Boxster and Cayman models.
According to Vonnen, the system replaces the standard flywheel with a powerful electric motor that sends instant power and torque straight to the crankshaft. The engine, ECU and the rest of the drivetrain remain untouched.
The electric motor can also function as a generator to charge the onboard battery module. The Stage 1 system offers 175 horsepower and 150 lb ft of instant torque while the Stage 2 pack produces 350 hp and 294 lb ft. The base system weighs in at approximately 120 pounds and is controlled through your smartphone.
There are a number of driver-selectable modes and Vonnen claims substantial performance improvements without affecting smog compliance levels. You may even use less fuel when not pressing on thanks to the regenerative braking system, although, due to the small capacity of the battery and the nature of the setup, purely electric driving is not possible.
Development is underway on a similar system for pre-2012 versions of all three models as well as all air-cooled 911 models, these hybrid systems should be available to order during the course of 2019. The catch? Pricing starts at a cough-inducing $75,000 for the base package, that is a fair whack of cash even considering the big power boost. The technology is fascinating though and with time it is sure to filter down to mainstream vehicles too.
