That’s where you’re wrong. Eager to silence the skeptics, Porsche tasked Romain Dumas with taking a pair of experimental 911s to the slopes of Ojos del Salado, Chile — the highest volcano in the world — in order to prove the platform’s mettle.
Of course, each Carrera 4S had to be extensively modified so that it could withstand the demands of the journey.
For starters, Porsche reworked the body to make room for the larger wheels and tires (they span some 310mm across) and relocated the cooling system to protect it against the rigors of extreme off-roading.
Next, the team added portal axles in order to raise the cars’ ground clearance up to a towering 350mm (13.8 inches). What’s more, the transmissions were given with smaller gear ratios – both for improved low speed control as well as some extra grunt to drive the knobbies.
And that’s not all; on the cars you’ll also find switchable locking differentials, state-of-the-art steer-by-wire systems, and some super-tough Aramid underbody protection. To ensure maximum traction, each 911 was fitted with a special motorsport-derived technology known as the Porsche Warp Connector. (It basically creates a link between all four wheels, allowing for constant load regardless of how much the suspension articulates.)