Like we mentioned earlier, Porsche displayed a 919 Hybrid during the second press day of this year’s Shanghai Motor Show. While it’s a lot newer than the cars we typically feature on Ran When Parked, we decided to shoot the 919 Hybrid because it’s a fascinating piece of machinery and because it stands out as the car that spearheaded Porsche’s long-awaited return to the top category of endurance racing.
As its name implies, the 919 Hybrid is powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain made up of a turbocharged 2.0-liter V4 engine rated at over 500 horsepower and an energy generator unit (EGU) that makes more than 400 horsepower. A seven-speed sequential gearbox transfers the V4’s power to the rear wheels, while a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) spins the front wheels when it kicks in, providing the 919 with all-wheel drive.
Lightweight components such as a honeycomb aluminum core and carbon fiber body panels offset the weight added by the lithium-ion battery pack. All told, the racer tips the scale at just 1,920 pounds without a driver and fuel.
The 919 Hybrid didn’t manage to beat Porsche and Toyota at last year’s edition of the 24 Hour of Le Mans. Both cars suffered from a broken roll bar; the number 14 car pictured below was repaired and took 11th, but the number 20 car was not classified because it didn’t finish the last lap of the race.