Porsche “Blasphemy” from Sacrilege Motors

There’s an air of reverence and a whiff of blasphemy in its identify: Sacrilege Motors.

Dedicated to a unique sort of automotive restoration, the Connecticut-based Sacrilege Motors has taken upon itself a polarizing but undeniably compelling mission — to transform basic, air-cooled Porsches into bespoke electrical automobiles.

One instance, known as the Enigma, was grabbing consideration on the 125^th New York Auto Present, not just for its distinctive grey hue, extensive fenders, and fats wheels, however extra for the charging wire that plugged it into the grid.

CleanTechnica visited the Sacrilege sales space on the NYIAS to take a look at the Enigma. Simply by viewing the automobile internals (photographs of which weren’t potential with out prior discover), it was clear this isn’t only a powertrain swap; it’s a concours-level rebirth, a fusion of iconic Stuttgart soul with silent, instantaneous torque.

For a automobile tradition devotee, particularly one watching the worldwide electrical shift from a market just like the Philippines, the work of Sacrilege is the sort of stuff that wouldn’t please purists however will excite Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB)’s Akira Nakai considerably.

Led by CEO Phil Wagenheim and President/Chief Engineer Bobby Singh, Sacrilege Motors operates on a precept of meticulous preservation by means of evolution. Singh has a long time of Porsche tuning expertise. One other media particular person requested in the event that they had been constructing equipment automobiles. Wagenheim countered saying that they’re painstakingly disassembling, restoring, and electrifying real Porsche 911s from 1974 to 1994 — the very coronary heart of the air-cooled period — and evolving, not merely changing, them to electrical sports activities automobiles.

Their course of is a fragile ballet of previous and new. The unique flat-six engine, the soul of the basic 911, is respectfully eliminated and crated, permitting your complete conversion to be, in concept, fully reversible. Instead, Sacrilege has engineered a state-of-the-art electrical powertrain developed in partnership with UK-based specialists Fellten.

That is the place the technical prowess really shines.

The Fellten system is a “bolt-in” answer, ingeniously designed to make the most of the unique engine and transmission mounting factors. This strategy is essential, because it permits Sacrilege to realize what it considers its holy grail: sustaining the near-perfect weight distribution that made the 911 a dealing with legend.

On the core of the conversion is a potent Tesla-sourced large-drive unit, tuned to ship roughly 500 horsepower and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. This can be a monumental leap from the unique automobiles’ output, catapulting them into fashionable efficiency territory with a 0–60 mph time of below 4 seconds. Feeding this motor is a 62 kWh battery pack, strategically cut up between the entrance and rear of the automobile to take care of that essential stability. The result’s a claimed vary of round 200 miles (320 km), a sensible determine for a weekend driver.

Sacrilege has built-in fashionable comfort with each AC and DC fast-charging capabilities, using a Mixed Charging System (CCS) port (with both Kind 1 or Kind 2 connectors) and making it appropriate with the rising international charging infrastructure.

Sacrilege at the moment showcases two major variants:

• The Blackbird: Primarily based on the uncommon 1992 Porsche 911 America Roadster, this open-top mannequin is the quintessential coastal cruiser, redefined. The triple-black launch automobile is a masterclass in understated aggression, its basic traces hiding the potent electrical coronary heart inside.
• The Enigma: For many who desire the enduring coupe silhouette, the Enigma presents the identical electrifying efficiency in a hardtop package deal. Primarily based on the 964-generation coupe, it supplies a extra targeted, enclosed driving expertise, a direct connection between driver, machine, and the street.

Past the powertrain, the technical upgrades are complete. The chassis is strengthened to deal with the moment torque, and the suspension is changed with customized three-way adjustable models from the motorsport veterans at Penske Racing Shocks. Braking is dealt with by huge six-piston Brembo calipers, guaranteeing stopping energy is greater than a match for the newfound acceleration.

Contained in the Sacrilege-reimagined 911 is swathed in hand-stitched Italian leather-based, but the basic five-gauge format stays. The tachometer now shows motor RPM, and the gasoline gauge has been repurposed to point out battery state of cost — a seamless mix of classic aesthetic and fashionable perform.

Whereas the value of entry is astronomical, $850,000 for a totally restored Porsche or about $750,000 with an unrusted 911 offered. Sacrilege Motors is making a daring assertion: that the way forward for basic motoring doesn’t need to imply the top of it.