Porsche 919 Hybrid Loses Power, Gains Aerodynamic Updates for 2016
Model conforms to new regulations
After its 1-2 victory at last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Porsche 919 Hybrid is back for 2016 with some big updates.
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The sports car prototype still uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged V-4 gas engine and electric drive system. The combustion engine doesn't boast the same 500-plus hp as last year thanks to new regulations for 2016. New rules stipulate cars use less fuel per lap, so the result is an 8-percent reduction in fuel and power. Although Porsche won't give a specific horsepower rating, it says the engine has dropped below 500 ponies. (The output temporarily increases to 900 hp when the driver summons additional power from the electric system).
To complement the V-4 engine, Porsche has updated the electric drive system for more power and efficiency. Other updates were made to the seven-speed gearbox, which weighs less than in last year's model.
In the same vein of increased efficiency, the new 919 features aerodynamic improvements. The model will start off the season with a "high downforce" package, and will use what Porsche describes as an "extremely low downforce" package for Le Mans. Then, it will have another "high downforce" package for the following six WEC races. With these three downforce packages, Porsche keeps within regulations that permit only three aerodynamic configurations per year. The 919 Hybrid benefits from an updated front and rear axle, and Porsche says the Michelin tires should perform better this year.
Check out the new red, white, and black livery for the 2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid in the images below.
Source: Porsche
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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