WATCH: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo sets new record for greatest altitude change by an EV

MANILA: JF Musial and his crew are usually behind the camera, producing motoring videos and television shows. Even when the cameras are not rolling, they are close friends and travel junkies who are continuously exploring and scouting new locations.

Propelled by curiosity, they drove a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo on a record-breaking trip from deep down a nickel and copper mine to the top of a mountain. They traveled nearly 2,260 kilometers in a little more than a day, from the lowest point they could reach in America by car to one of the highest — resting only for the drivers and the car to recharge.

Guinness World Records acknowledged their accomplishment, which set a new record for the greatest altitude change ever achieved by an electric vehicle.

In a statement, Musial shared, “It started as a ‘what if?’ — a passion project, mixing our love for cars and travel and taking it to extremes. We wanted to drive from the lowest point in America to one of the highest, Pikes Peak — where we’ve spent countless hours filming the famous hill climb. The project relied on a lot of goodwill, and a car that’s pretty much unique in its mix of abilities.”

Badwater Basin in Death Valley is the lowest point in America, located at 282 feet below sea level. To go any deeper, the team had to go underground. They were able to do it with the help of the personnel and operators of Eagle Mine, a high-grade nickel and copper mine and the only mine in America where a car can be driven to adequate depths down a ramp normally used by specialist mining vehicles.

Because the Taycan Cross Turismo is a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a capable off-roader with increased ride height and four wheel drive, it managed to meet Eagle Mine’s standards for being allowed to drive through the portal and into the tunnel itself, making it one of the few cars in the world with the perfect balance of capabilities to attempt the trip without any modification and using standard road tires.

The team was given access to the lowest area of the excavation — a depth of 1,774.4 feet below sea level — after undergoing extensive safety training.

“It was fitting to have the Porsche Taycan drive to the bottom of our nickel and copper mine, as both elements are essential to electric vehicles. After numerous risk assessments, safety discussions, and detailed planning, our mine team was up to the challenge. We are proud to have worked with Porsche to safely execute and complete a new world record,” Eagle Mine Managing Director Darby Stacey stated.

The team arose from the mine shortly after dawn, having their precise depth measured and confirmed by specialist surveyors, and began their unrelenting climb to gain altitude — their final destination, the 14,115-feet summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, home to the world-famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The trip was one of the most challenging experiences the car and the team had ever faced. It would take them across six states and 4,842.967 meters in elevation without ever leaving the ground. By the time they reached the summit, the oxygen they had at the start of the trek had decreased by 40%. They endured heat, rain, snow, and ice along the journey, as well as fatigue and constant worry that the mountain road, and the path to their record, would close due to weather conditions.

The driving tasks were shared among three sets of drivers who worked in tandem. They conducted the attempt by the book, with separate, sealed GPS devices to track their path and altitude, as well as an analog altimeter and witness logs to follow the Guinness World Records requirements.

As the snow began to fall, the window to conclude the adventure dwindled, needing a swift drive to the peak and the finish line. The last, record-breaking stage of the trip was driven by 2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Class Champion Dai Yoshihara. The group of men and women, now record-breakers, climbed a total of 15,889 feet straight up in 33 hours and 48 minutes.

One member completed the entire trip, driving at first then transferring to the passenger seat. It was, of course, Musial.

“You can plan for months, develop a highly detailed schedule, but at the end of the day it always comes down to execution and weather,” he said. “I couldn’t have been prouder of our team’s efforts. The weather – that was a different story. I’ve always been told that the mountain decides if it’ll allow you to get to the summit. Despite an incoming snowstorm, we got lucky and found a small 45-minute window to get to the top – the mountain let us get this record. It was among the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I guess that’s why it’s a record! Thank you to the teams at Eagle Mine and Pikes Peak, and at Guinness World Records, for supporting what started out as a daydream and ended up being something none of us will ever forget. Now, I need to sleep for a week…”

Watch the video here.

Photos from Porsche

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