- 608
- Italy
“over 900 horsepower”
The 919's turbocharged two-liter 90-degree V4 engine has been lightened and made more efficient to suit the WEC’s mandate that all LMP1 hybrids use less fuel per lap this year—eight percent less, in the Porsche 919's case. This drops the energy output of the combustion engine down below 500 hp, whereas last year’s engine had well over 500 hp. Porsche estimates that the drop in power could cost them up to 4 seconds more a lap on the 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.
Thus, beefing up the electric drive was key to the 2016 919. The 919 plans to run the WEC’s highest-powered 8-megajoule hybrid spec. Porsche recovers braking energy from the front axle as well as exhaust energy to feed its hybrid system. Exhaust pressure drives turbines that are connected to an electrical generator in the car. Lithium-ion batteries save the energy produced by the front axle KERS and the exhaust turbines.
At full boost, the hybrid system adds over 400 hp to the front axle of the car, helping the 919 pull itself out of turns at insane speeds.
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