Porsche’s Carbon Fiber Wheels: Costly but Super-Cool

Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series models manufactured in 2018 can be fitted with new carbon wheels for roughly $18,000.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series is one of the most powerful vehicles in the automaker’s lineup, and it’s also happens to be one of the most expensive, too. Well, things are now a little more expensive and exclusive thanks to Porsche’s awesome option for the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series: carbon fiber-reinforced polymer wheels.

Cutting out weight is a crucial aspect to any high-performance sports car, and that’s exactly what the carbon fiber wheels do on the 911. Weighing in at just 19 pounds, the carbon-fiber wheels are 20 percent lighter than a similarly-sized set of aluminum alloy wheels. In addition to being lighter than alloy wheels, the carbon-fiber rims are also 20 percent stronger.

Expectedly, the carbon-fiber wheels aren’t cheap. The set of wheels cost roughly $18,000, which may seem insane, but the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series does start at $258,550 and comes with a carbon-fiber, roof, trunklid, and side skirts. So, for those that can actually afford the vehicle, it’s a bargain.

Making the wheel isn’t an easy task, either, as the carbon-fiber component, which is essentially two items – the wheel center and rim base – requires the assembly of over 200 individual parts. To make the rim base, Porsche uses what it claims is the world’s largest carbon-fiber braiding machine that has a diameter of roughly 30 feet.

The wheel center, on the other hand, is made out of carbon-fiber fabric cutouts that individuals with gloves and white coats hand assemble into shape. After that, the wheel center is braided into the rim base, which is followed by the addition of a resin that’s added to the carbon fiber. By using a combination of high pressure and high temperatures, which is followed by a long cooling process, the wheels harden. The last step of the extensive process is a coat of protective clear lacquer.

While the carbon-fiber wheels are only being offered on the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series at the moment, it’s only a matter of time until the tech spreads to other cars. To get a closer look at how Porsche makes the carbon-fiber wheels, check out the video above from Porsche‘s YouTube page.