Porsche has just announced a new world record: a modded 911 duo has ascended the Ojos del Salado volcano in Chile to an altitude of 6,734 meters (22,093 feet). No other car has managed to climb this high unassisted. The arduous journey to the top took two weeks.
The team that worked on setting the new record has come up with two largely identical 911 Carrera 4S builds for it: one to serve as the main car and the other as a follow-me vehicle. Both received portal axles and massive off-road tires for a combined 350 mm (13.67 inches) of ground clearance. They also ended up with aramid-fiber rock guards at the bottom.
The tuners have tweaked the gear ratios, but left both engines stock. In the case of the 911 Carrera S, this means a three-liter flat-six block rated at 443 PS (437 hp / 326 kW). According to the team, the electronics on board had no trouble at all adjusting the performance of the engines at higher altitudes despite the sparse air and lack of oxygen. Both engines ran on synthetic fuel.
As to why it took two weeks to complete the ascent, the team says it needed the time to acclimatize. Two doctors accompanied the drivers, ready to assist them in case of emergency. The final stages of the climb were made especially difficult due to the need to scout for for viable paths among all the giant rocks, sharp rubble and volcanic ash fields.