Porsche tests 911 prototypes in safari style on a volcano in Chile

• Porsche tested two 911 prototypes with raised suspensions and off-road tires on the side of a volcano.
• The prototypes were heavily modified versions 911 Carrera 4Swhich has four-wheel drive and 443 horsepower.
• Along with a compact interior and safari-style styling, the prototypes climbed the volcano with an improved transmission and a handy winch.

Ojo del Salado in Chile is the highest volcano in the world. With slopes with treacherous terrain and areas where temperatures drop well below freezing, this is the last place anyone would expect to see Porsche 911. Well, look again, because as these photos show, Porsche has literally taken its iconic sports car to new heights by testing a pair of 911 prototypes in safari style on the slopes of a volcano. Are they a preview of the rumored Dakar version? Somehow it seems so.

Not your 911 lawyer

Clearly, the two prototypes involved in this wild experiment are no ordinary 911s. Although both are based on the all-wheel-drive 443 hp Carrera 4S, the 992-generation coupes were heavily modified. However, Porsche has retained its original seven-speed manual transmissions. Bravo! On the other hand, the rest of the cars are barely recognizable with their extensive exterior changes that include extended fenders, beefy off-road tires, roof racks and custom liveries. One of the latter’s color schemes is the same as the Porsche 963 LMDh racing car, while the other has a 911 theme created by Weissach designers.

Equipment to eliminate the scale of the volcano

Equipped with heavy-duty portal axles, the 911 prototypes have a whopping 13.7 inches of ground clearance. That’s half an inch more than that Ford Bronco Raptor. Porsche’s high-riding cars also feature lower gear ratios for improved low-speed creep and manual differential locks for maximum traction. The 911 also has an underbody protection made of durable heat-resistant synthetic fibers. We’re not sure if it can protect against lava, but Ojo del Salado is a dormant volcano – so we’re told.

It’s unclear what type of suspension is used on the 911 prototypes, except that it’s clearly not a stock setup. It supports a quartet of 12.2-inch-wide tires, all of which are mechanically connected by a device Porsche calls a “deformation coupler.” We’re told it’s designed to maintain maximum grip during extreme wheel pivoting. If one of the lifted 911s gets stuck (as shown below), both have a front-mounted winch to pull them out.

How is the weather there?

The team testing the Dakar-style 911 prototypes was led by adrenaline junkie, adventurer and endurance racer Romain Dumas. It has taken lifted sports cars up to 19,708 feet. Not only was the temperature about -22 degrees Fahrenheit, but the air was paper thin. The journey included obstacles such as boulder-strewn slopes, ice fields and snow walls. You know, the typical stuff 911 drivers run into. However, Porsche says Dumas and his team have accomplished their mission.

“It was a truly unforgettable and special moment in a place that is both beautiful and brutal,” said Dumas. “I guess the only machines in the world taller than us today were airplanes!”

This content is imported from a survey. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may be able to find more information on their website.