Notices
964 Forum 1989-1994
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

RAPH - most capable rally oriented 964 for the road

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-10-2019, 03:27 PM
  #1  
911Jetta
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
 
911Jetta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 7,214
Received 485 Likes on 278 Posts
Default RAPH - most capable rally oriented 964 for the road

Wow, what a cool car. Totally engineered to the next level. Thoughts? Anyone own one?

https://raphautomotive.com/

4WD Rally
The new Raph. LW1 is unapologetically designed to be the most capable rally-oriented car ever made for the road. It is engineered for prodigious speed – both straight-line – jumps and drifts– with total driver control. That doesn’t mean one has to be uncomfortable.



Gearbox
A lightning-fast sequential close ratio six-speed 4WD gearbox with automatic double-clutch. This transmission took 18 months to develop by Australian company Holinger, that made it match flawlessly with the monster powertrain. Controlled drifting or fooling around a track is a piece of cake, thanks to the hydraulic brake.


Exhaust
Normal craftsmanship can’t even come close to truly equal lengths. CAD design can, but is useless if the production is done by hand. Celeritech developed an all CNC unique process so they can guaranty the manifold and exhaust system are exactly equal lengths.



Engine

High-quality technologies can be found in the air-cooled 3.8-liter boxer engine with 450 hp and 490 Nm. One-piece, 3D-printed airboxes give the engine the wright amount of cool air to create a monster.


The story


The magic of an air-cooled Porsche 911 and the controllable speed of a 4WD rally car, with a stylish design and an exclusive finish. That is the Raph. LW1 in a nutshell, a remarkable Dutch project to which leading specialists of the industry contributed their expertise. And the very first of only 22 specimens is already hammering around.

How cool would it be, to drive a blisteringly fast Porsche 964 safely through the Scottish Highlands or over Col de Turini? The Raph. LW1 was build with exactly that in mind. And the result is a true sports car that weighs a mere 1075 kilogram, linking the DNA of an air-cooled 911 to a number of outstanding modifications, developped by a specialized team of engineers. All under the supervision of concept maker Raphaël Gianotten, who was inspired by the 964 Carrera 4 Leichtbau from Weissach. A car of wich also only 22 were ever built.

The Raph. LW1 maintains its standard width, effortlessly carving the perfect racing line on mountain roads, with all the grip you’ll ever wish for. It’s very nimble, due to the use of 25 handmade carbon parts, including the bucket seats, the floorpan protection and the housing for the fuel cell, which was modelled on F1 technology. The body parts remained their original shape, in order to preserve the iconic silhouette. Controlled drifting or fooling around a track is a piece of cake, thanks to the hydraulic parking brake and the lightning-fast sequential close ratio six-speed gearbox with automatic double-clutch. This transmission took 18 months to develop by Australian company Holinger, that made it match flawlessly with the Carrera 4 powertrain.


Other high-quality technologies can be found in the air-cooled 3.8-liter boxer engine with 450 hp and 490 Nm. One-piece, 3D-printed airboxes for example, give the engine bay a futuristic look and the programmable Motec M130 computer communicates via an ultra-light canbus system.

Experienced rally car constructors and drivers were responsible for the design of the chassis. They installed titanium drive shafts and special coil springs, equipped with Proflex shock absorbers, to name but a few. The ground clearance was increased by two centimeters and the travel is ten centimeters, so bumps and potholes are hardly obstacles anymore. Exclusive and original 17-inch Porsche Magnesium Cup 1 wheels cover the 2.1-kilogram lightweight Brembo WRC monoblock calipers with brake discs that are larger than life. Various materials and constructions are influenced by WRC technology and the meticulously engineered Raph. LW1 is thus capable of things that might seem impossible. During tests on the Niederrhein race track (Germany) it turned out to be even faster than an R5 Rally car from the world championship.

The clear focus on performance, however, does not mean drivers find themselves in a spartan interior though. On the contrary, the cockpit is characterized by a generous and padded roll cage and a very high-end finish with soft leather that is even applied to the pillars. 18-carat gold details in the rev counter and emblems on the dashboard give the interior a touch of luxury and customers also receive a set of customized, handmade, matching leather bags. Yes, the Raph. LW1 is for sale and available for connoisseurs that appreciate more than 2,000 hours of craftsmanship and are eager to discover the staggering potential of this 911 with rally qualities.




The following 2 users liked this post by 911Jetta:
Dingo (10-11-2019), Poli84 (10-10-2019)
Old 10-10-2019, 03:47 PM
  #2  
Hem
Instructor
 
Hem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 141
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

I wish my car sounded like that.
Old 10-10-2019, 04:49 PM
  #3  
GeorgeK
Rennlist Member
 
GeorgeK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 603
Received 34 Likes on 29 Posts
Default

I want its door mirrors.
Owner will be sad when the side slider windows leak onto the leather panels.
How does one ventilate in damp conditions with the vents removed and no (?) AC?
Old 10-10-2019, 06:53 PM
  #4  
mystert
Rennlist Member
 
mystert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ventura, CA
Posts: 517
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
Default

Cool car but air filters seem like a pain to change, all those screws.....
Old 10-11-2019, 08:42 AM
  #5  
-nick
Three Wheelin'
 
-nick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cambridge/Boston, MA
Posts: 1,781
Received 104 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

450hp out of a 3.8 when Ed Pink only manages 350hp. I’m skeptical. As well as having 22 sets of RS magnesium cup wheels sitting on a shelf. The sales hyperbole is a bit strong.

In for info on the “sequential close ratio six-speed 4WD gearbox with automatic double-clutch”. And “titanium driveshafts”. Original axles do weigh a ton.

Interesting.
The following users liked this post:
BLACK3.2 (07-13-2020)
Old 10-11-2019, 02:14 PM
  #6  
964.4L
Racer
 
964.4L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: London
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 185 Likes on 89 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by -nick
450hp out of a 3.8 when Ed Pink only manages 350hp. I’m skeptical. As well as having 22 sets of RS magnesium cup wheels sitting on a shelf. The sales hyperbole is a bit strong.

In for info on the “sequential close ratio six-speed 4WD gearbox with automatic double-clutch”. And “titanium driveshafts”. Original axles do weigh a ton.

Interesting.
I am also very sceptical on the power. I am going 4.0L, with the best custom heads money can buy (so I am told anyway), and lots of other trick bits from a package put together by Rothsport in the US over years of development....and I will be happy if i crack the 400hp mark. Unclear how they can push 450hp out of a 3.8L.

Anyway, an awesome car and the gearbox looks amazing. The interior is also pretty special. A great package.
Old 10-11-2019, 02:36 PM
  #7  
964.4L
Racer
 
964.4L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: London
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 185 Likes on 89 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 964.4L
I am also very sceptical on the power. I am going 4.0L, with the best custom heads money can buy (so I am told anyway), and lots of other trick bits from a package put together by Rothsport in the US over years of development....and I will be happy if i crack the 400hp mark. Unclear how they can push 450hp out of a 3.8L.

Anyway, an awesome car and the gearbox looks amazing. The interior is also pretty special. A great package.
Also, 1,075kg’s for a c4 sounds very light no?
Old 10-11-2019, 04:06 PM
  #8  
stimpy32
Instructor
 
stimpy32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 148
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

SEXUAL.

They don't say anything about the rest of the transmission - would be interested to see what they have done....
Old 10-14-2019, 10:16 AM
  #9  
cobalt
Rennlist Member
 
cobalt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 22,293
Received 2,016 Likes on 1,206 Posts
Default

Many things to like also many ?? and concerns. I have to agree highly unlikely they are seeing 450 and 361 tq at the crank out of a 3.8 even with ITB's and super fine tuned exhaust and intake. I would need to see proof and then there is the type of dyno and how it was tested.

I am not one for using helmets on the street and having a roll cage like that so close to your head just makes me think of cracking eggs.

It would be nice if they gave more info on the actual build. Not sure what STTI mag Cup I's are the original mag cup I's were made by SM in Germany. They were also not used on the C4 lightweight.

Otherwise nicely done and at least it isn't another backdate.
The following users liked this post:
BLACK3.2 (07-13-2020)



Quick Reply: RAPH - most capable rally oriented 964 for the road



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 12:24 PM.