Sacrilege Motors, a bespoke performance, restoration and electric-conversion studio, will reveal its first Porsche 911 commission on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Sacrilege Motors is the premier restoration and electric-conversion company devoted to evolving the classic Porsche 911 by preserving its analog driving feel and precise handling, while updating its performance and reducing its environmental impact.
Nicknamed BLACKBIRD by its owner, in honor of the supersonic Lockheed SR-71 aircraft, this triple black commission, a 1992 Porsche 911 America Roadster, is the first to be restored, performance-tuned and converted to an electric powertrain at Sacrilege Motors’ headquarters in Lakeville, CT. Housed in a former Skip Barber facility, Sacrilege Motors chose the location for its proximity to the historic Lime Rock Park racing circuit, where the BLACKBIRD commission Porsche 911’s development testing took place. The Porsche 911 America Roadster is a limited-edition, U.S. version of the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet Turbo-look, one of 250 made. Originally equipped with a Tiptronic transmission, this car now has a single-gear, all-electric powertrain.
“Our passion for Porsche cars is paramount to this project,” said Bobby Singh, Sacrilege Motors’ president and technical lead. “We want to deliver an analog, air-cooled-era 911 with the reliability and instant power of an EV, while preserving an exhilarating driving experience that’s familiar to air-cooled 911 enthusiasts. Retaining the 911’s best handling characteristics, with added performance and upgraded components, all while reducing its environmental impact, was our ultimate goal. We’ve kept the same weight distribution, which is crucial to the car feeling like a Porsche 911 should.”
“Since 1997 I have owned a Porsche 911 993 Turbo…my dream car, maintained by Bobby [Singh] for almost 30 years,” Sacrilege Motors CEO Phil Wagenheim said. “For this commission, we set out to maintain the soul of a Porsche 911 and familiarity of its driving experience, while adding a low-maintenance, high-performance powerplant. I’m not telling anyone to give up internal combustion…I’m not. What we are doing at Sacrilege is we’re just adding an electric power option to your analog quiver of fun.”
The BLACKBIRD Commission
Model: 1992 Porsche 911 America Roadster (one of 250 Produced; 1992-1993)
0-60: Under 4 seconds
Horsepower: 500 hp
Torque: 369 lb-ft (500 Nm)
Weight: 3,200 lbs
Motor: Tesla Model S (Custom)
Battery Pack: 62 kWh
Range: Approx. 200 miles
Differential: Limited slip
Charging: CCS rapid charging
Suspension Front: Two-way inverted custom Penske race shocks
Suspension Rear: Three-way adjustable remote-reservoir custom Penske race shocks
Brakes: Brembo performance, slotted rotors, front and rear.
Wheels: Fiske three-piece custom forged
Tires Front: Michelin PS2 235/40ZR-18
Tires Rear: Michelin PS2 295/35ZR-18
