Porsche 963 RSP: Le Mans race car turned into road-going hypercar
Porsche has a new hypercar based on its Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) class race car, but it's just a one off.
Unveiled ahead of this week's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the new 963 RSP is based on the 963 race car that competes in the FIA's World Endurance Championship –of which Le Mans is one of eight races — and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The new 963 RSP is so named because it was built, nominally, for Roger Searle Penske, owner of many racing teams, the IndyCar racing series, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Porsche Penske Motorsports runs the factory team racing the 963.
Through his eponymous corporation he also his hands in car dealerships, automotive engineering, trucking, and logistics.
According to Porsche, the RSP is inspired by the Count Rossi 917 (pictured below), a race car from the 70s that was turned into a road-going vehicle, and remains on French roads to this day.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The team working on turning the 963 race car into the RSP decided early on to follow the Count Rossi 917 template, and make as few changes as possible.
This, no doubt, reduced development time and cost significantly, but also means the RSP is not homologated, and is limited to road use under 'special circumstances'. For its debut on the streets near Circuit de la Sarthe, where the Le Mans 24 Hour race is held, it wore manufacturer plates.
To that end the head- and tail-lights have been reprogrammed, while a horn and licence plate brackets have been added to the car. The most significant changes to the 963's exterior are the addition of fully covered wheel arches, and the removal of the blanking plates for the rear wing. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
An enamel Porsche badge has been added to the front, while 70s-era Michelin logos are used for the rain-spec 18-inch race tyres that are wrapped around forged OZ racing wheels.
Painting the 963 RSP in Martini Silver was problematic due to the car's Kevlar and carbon-fibre body. Some smaller body parts, such as the hinges and wing connectors, are finished in satin black.
For the interior, the single-piece air-conditioned carbon seat is trimmed in leather. It is made more comfortable with a cushion down the middle and a fixed headrest fitted to the rear bulkhead.
Leather is also used for the steering wheel, while faux suede is applied to the headlining, leg cushions and door trim. A 3D-printed cup holder has been added to the middle of the dashboard. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
As real-world roads aren't race track smooth, the RSP sits on the 963's tallest suspension setting, and the race-going Multimatic DSSV dampers are set to their most absorbent.
Powering the RSP is a hybrid system with a 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 at its core, a 1.35kWh battery, 800V electrical system, and an electric motor that can deliver up to 50kW in short bursts.
The drivetrain is in race-spec trim, and overall output is limited to the V8's maximum output of around 507kW (680hp). When the electric motor operates in tandem with the petrol engine, the V8's power is clipped so the maximum output of the drivetrain is maintained.
Under light loads, the 963 can operate solely on electric power. Given the RSP will live most of its life driving at a moderate pace, the electric motor has been remapped to prioritise smooth power delivery. The V8 engine has also been retuned to live on lower-octane road-going petrol.
After swanning around at Le Mans, the 963 RSP will head off to the Porsche museum in Stuttgart, and then make an appearance at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
MORE: Everything Porsche
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A radio for communication with the team is installed at the front of transmission tunnel, and a speaker is placed near the rear air conditioning vents. The seat behind the driver has been removed and replaced by a chilled esky, and the roof lining contains storage nets for snacks and bandages. The car's strong bike focus has been done to celebrate the company's history. Skoda began life as a bicycle manufacturer in 1895 as Lauren & Klement, named after founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Car making began a decade later, and the company was bought by Skoda, an arms manufacturer, in 1925. Both the interior and exterior are finished in red, gold and black trim that's inspired by the original L&K emblem. 3D printed L&K badges are used both inside and out in place of Skoda's fast-disappearing winged arrow logo. 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It is the 10th annual concept designed by the company's academy school students, and honours the company's 130th anniversary. The students transformed from the Superb Combi wagon into a ute by shortening the roof and roof rails, modifying the B- and C-pillars, and reinforcing the body. Naturally, there's a new wall and windscreen behind the rear seats to separate the tray from the cabin. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. There's also a new tailgate that, at the push of a button, slides out via a rack-and-pinion system to extend cargo tray. When extended, the two bikes housed in the tray-mounted rack slide down from 35 degrees to nearly horizontal to make loading and unloading easier. Overall length, at 4901mm, is unchanged from the regular Superb wagon. Another bike can stored on the roof rack, while the right rear door has sprouted an extra door handle as it slides back, like on a people mover, rather swinging outwards on the standard wagon. To keep track of movements of the bike racing team there are tablet displays on the dashboard and ahead of the passenger's seat, and a permanent internet connection. A radio for communication with the team is installed at the front of transmission tunnel, and a speaker is placed near the rear air conditioning vents. The seat behind the driver has been removed and replaced by a chilled esky, and the roof lining contains storage nets for snacks and bandages. The car's strong bike focus has been done to celebrate the company's history. Skoda began life as a bicycle manufacturer in 1895 as Lauren & Klement, named after founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Car making began a decade later, and the company was bought by Skoda, an arms manufacturer, in 1925. Both the interior and exterior are finished in red, gold and black trim that's inspired by the original L&K emblem. 3D printed L&K badges are used both inside and out in place of Skoda's fast-disappearing winged arrow logo. The Superb's plug-in hybrid drivetrain is left untouched, and makes a combined 150kW and 350Nm from its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor combo. The 25.7kWh battery pack has WLTP range rating of 100km. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from:
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Buzz electric van and people mover range are expected to choose the more powerful, dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX performance flagship – more than in almost any other market – despite its near-$20,000 price premium at a hefty $109,990 before on-road costs. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia director Nathan Johnson said local demand for the GTX will reflect the popularity of GTI hot hatch versions of the venerable VW Golf in this market. "With GTX, one in five [ID. Buzz sales] is our expectation – so roughly 20 per cent – and that will be one of the highest penetration rates for GTX in any market," he said at the recently launch of the ID. Buzz GTX. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We're confident that it'll be quite high. We obviously haven't played in the performance market before at commercial vehicles, but from a Volkswagen perspective, in GTI, we are one of the top markets globally, and always have been in that space, so we always get a lot of attention from the global guys when it comes to performance models." Volkswagen Australia says about 20 per cent of its initial annual allocation of ID. Buzz vehicles is already spoken for, but its sales ambitions are relatively low for what is a relatively niche model, at a minimum of 100 per month – much less than the traditional volume of other VW commercial vans including the small Caddy, mid-size Transporter and large Crafter. First released in Europe in June 2022 and previously due on sale in Australia in 2024, the ID. Buzz was finally launched here in December, initially in short-wheelbase rear-wheel drive Cargo commercial van and both SWB five-seat and LWB seven-seat Pro people mover guises. Initial customer deliveries were held back until April to ensure all vehicles received a software update bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so to May this year fewer than 100 have now been registered. Volkswagen projects 55-60 per cent of buyers will opt for the Pro people movers, with the remaining 40-45 per cent going for the Cargo van. And of the almost 8000 expressions of interest it has received, most prospective buyers are keen on SWB vehicles and 70 per cent of orders are for people movers with a trademark two-tone paint scheme. The range-topping, long-wheelbase GTX is not only quicker and more powerful than all other ID. Buzz variants, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that makes it the only all-wheel drive version, but it offers a higher 1600kg braked towing capacity and scores almost every option as standard in a 300mm-longer body with the practicality of seven seats. "The GTX has the benefit of being 4Motion [AWD] as well. This is very much a lifestyle vehicle that leans into some of those specific elements, and whether they go to the snow or the beach or so on, customers in Australia do have a preference for all-wheel drive," said Volkswagen Group Australia acting general manager of corporate communications, Daniel DeGasperi. "The GTX's higher towing capacity of up to 1.6 tonnes also means that while we're not talking about something that tows 3.5 tonnes like our Amarok, people do tow jet skis and small boats and vans." The GTX employs the same 86kWh lithium-ion battery as all other ID. Buzz variants, but adds a front-mounted electric motor to offer not only AWD, but total outputs of 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque. This results in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds and 450km of electric range under the WLTP cycle. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: At least 20 per cent of Australian customers for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric van and people mover range are expected to choose the more powerful, dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX performance flagship – more than in almost any other market – despite its near-$20,000 price premium at a hefty $109,990 before on-road costs. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia director Nathan Johnson said local demand for the GTX will reflect the popularity of GTI hot hatch versions of the venerable VW Golf in this market. "With GTX, one in five [ID. Buzz sales] is our expectation – so roughly 20 per cent – and that will be one of the highest penetration rates for GTX in any market," he said at the recently launch of the ID. Buzz GTX. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We're confident that it'll be quite high. We obviously haven't played in the performance market before at commercial vehicles, but from a Volkswagen perspective, in GTI, we are one of the top markets globally, and always have been in that space, so we always get a lot of attention from the global guys when it comes to performance models." Volkswagen Australia says about 20 per cent of its initial annual allocation of ID. Buzz vehicles is already spoken for, but its sales ambitions are relatively low for what is a relatively niche model, at a minimum of 100 per month – much less than the traditional volume of other VW commercial vans including the small Caddy, mid-size Transporter and large Crafter. First released in Europe in June 2022 and previously due on sale in Australia in 2024, the ID. Buzz was finally launched here in December, initially in short-wheelbase rear-wheel drive Cargo commercial van and both SWB five-seat and LWB seven-seat Pro people mover guises. Initial customer deliveries were held back until April to ensure all vehicles received a software update bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so to May this year fewer than 100 have now been registered. Volkswagen projects 55-60 per cent of buyers will opt for the Pro people movers, with the remaining 40-45 per cent going for the Cargo van. And of the almost 8000 expressions of interest it has received, most prospective buyers are keen on SWB vehicles and 70 per cent of orders are for people movers with a trademark two-tone paint scheme. The range-topping, long-wheelbase GTX is not only quicker and more powerful than all other ID. Buzz variants, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that makes it the only all-wheel drive version, but it offers a higher 1600kg braked towing capacity and scores almost every option as standard in a 300mm-longer body with the practicality of seven seats. "The GTX has the benefit of being 4Motion [AWD] as well. This is very much a lifestyle vehicle that leans into some of those specific elements, and whether they go to the snow or the beach or so on, customers in Australia do have a preference for all-wheel drive," said Volkswagen Group Australia acting general manager of corporate communications, Daniel DeGasperi. "The GTX's higher towing capacity of up to 1.6 tonnes also means that while we're not talking about something that tows 3.5 tonnes like our Amarok, people do tow jet skis and small boats and vans." The GTX employs the same 86kWh lithium-ion battery as all other ID. Buzz variants, but adds a front-mounted electric motor to offer not only AWD, but total outputs of 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque. This results in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds and 450km of electric range under the WLTP cycle. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: At least 20 per cent of Australian customers for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric van and people mover range are expected to choose the more powerful, dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX performance flagship – more than in almost any other market – despite its near-$20,000 price premium at a hefty $109,990 before on-road costs. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia director Nathan Johnson said local demand for the GTX will reflect the popularity of GTI hot hatch versions of the venerable VW Golf in this market. "With GTX, one in five [ID. Buzz sales] is our expectation – so roughly 20 per cent – and that will be one of the highest penetration rates for GTX in any market," he said at the recently launch of the ID. Buzz GTX. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We're confident that it'll be quite high. We obviously haven't played in the performance market before at commercial vehicles, but from a Volkswagen perspective, in GTI, we are one of the top markets globally, and always have been in that space, so we always get a lot of attention from the global guys when it comes to performance models." Volkswagen Australia says about 20 per cent of its initial annual allocation of ID. Buzz vehicles is already spoken for, but its sales ambitions are relatively low for what is a relatively niche model, at a minimum of 100 per month – much less than the traditional volume of other VW commercial vans including the small Caddy, mid-size Transporter and large Crafter. First released in Europe in June 2022 and previously due on sale in Australia in 2024, the ID. Buzz was finally launched here in December, initially in short-wheelbase rear-wheel drive Cargo commercial van and both SWB five-seat and LWB seven-seat Pro people mover guises. Initial customer deliveries were held back until April to ensure all vehicles received a software update bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so to May this year fewer than 100 have now been registered. Volkswagen projects 55-60 per cent of buyers will opt for the Pro people movers, with the remaining 40-45 per cent going for the Cargo van. And of the almost 8000 expressions of interest it has received, most prospective buyers are keen on SWB vehicles and 70 per cent of orders are for people movers with a trademark two-tone paint scheme. The range-topping, long-wheelbase GTX is not only quicker and more powerful than all other ID. Buzz variants, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that makes it the only all-wheel drive version, but it offers a higher 1600kg braked towing capacity and scores almost every option as standard in a 300mm-longer body with the practicality of seven seats. "The GTX has the benefit of being 4Motion [AWD] as well. This is very much a lifestyle vehicle that leans into some of those specific elements, and whether they go to the snow or the beach or so on, customers in Australia do have a preference for all-wheel drive," said Volkswagen Group Australia acting general manager of corporate communications, Daniel DeGasperi. "The GTX's higher towing capacity of up to 1.6 tonnes also means that while we're not talking about something that tows 3.5 tonnes like our Amarok, people do tow jet skis and small boats and vans." The GTX employs the same 86kWh lithium-ion battery as all other ID. Buzz variants, but adds a front-mounted electric motor to offer not only AWD, but total outputs of 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque. This results in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds and 450km of electric range under the WLTP cycle. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from:
