Singer Vehicle Design made a name for itself by reimagining the Porsche 911, but after releasing the results of its study of dynamics and light weight in 2018, it seemed that the company had reached the limit of how far it could take the model in terms of performance and design. It turns out that there was still more to come. This morning, Singer revealed the culmination of his second largest customer-requested research and development project, the All-Terrain Competition Study (ACS), culminating in 911 reborn rally drivers to face Dakar or Baja.
“We at Singer are motorsport nerds in our hearts and demonstrate our understanding of the discipline required by our off-road vision to display deeply legitimate competition credentials, from structural engineering, bodywork ethics and the mechanical package,” said Rob Dickinson , Singer’s founder and CEO, in the official announcement. “Much of what we have done in the past decade has been inspired by Porsche’s success in competition and the Off-Road Competition Study offers us the opportunity to show this idea in a literal and vivid way.”
Examples from the Singer Vehicle Design Off-Road Competition Study for the Porsche 911.
Photo: Courtesy of Singer Vehicle Design.
Although influenced by the Porsche 911 SC / RS examples promoted by names like Rothmans in the 1980s World Rally Championships (WRC), Rothmans won 12 prominent rally races in 1984 and 85 alone with the Southern California Singer selected to 1990 Porsche 964 platform for vehicles modified by ACS.
Crucial to the process was Singer’s collaboration with rally specialist Richard Tuthill and his team, winners of the 2019 East African Safari Classic, as well as several other important results in the sport. Tuthill, whose facilities are in Oxfordshire, UK, also worked on the original Rothmans cars at that time.
Featuring a substantially high ride height, the permanent four-wheel drive coupe with coated limited-slip differentials is powered by an air-cooled twin-cylinder six-cylinder engine coupled to a five-speed sequential transmission. Singer says production starts with 450 hp and 420 ft lbs of torque, but varies depending on the intended form of competition. Below the carbon fiber panels, there is a reinforced monocoque chassis, a long-haul suspension system with adjustable shock absorbers in five directions (two per corner) and an extended fuel tank.
The permanent four-wheel drive coupe is powered by an air-cooled, six-cylinder, six-cylinder twin turbo engine coupled to a five-speed sequential transmission.
Photo: Courtesy of Singer Vehicle Design.
The whole package works with forged aluminum wheels 8 ”x 16” with BF Goodrich All-Terrain rubber and complemented by monoblock steel disc brakes with four pistons. On-board features include race-specific GPS navigation, a pair of spare tires and an integrated hydration system for the driver and navigator.
“It was really the development of the chassis that took a while,” said Singer CEO Mazen Fawaz, during a conversation with Robb report about the study, which took about three years to complete. “Richard [Tuthill] led this. And then you have a body structure that needed to be designed, and this is a process that Rob [Dickinson] led. This is not just a 911 with a protective cage. We knew that we had to grow up. We don’t really do fashion. We had to do something that would be a competitive off-road driver in the desert. Fully designed, it’s like a WRC race car with some trophy truck inside. “
The modifications include carbon fiber panels, a reinforced monoblock chassis, increased ride height, a long-haul suspension system and an improved fuel tank.
Photo by Nick Dimbleby, courtesy of Singer Vehicle Design.
And Fawaz must know, as he raced trophy trucks with the team of Formula 1 driver Jenson Button, Rocket Motorsport, and plans to do so again this season. Testing of the ACS-modified Porsches will be done with a team of Fawaz, Tuthill, Le Mans veteran Marino Franchitti, and automotive consultant Chris Harris.
The cabin has an integrated hydration system for occupants and specific GPS navigation for the race.
Photo by Nick Dimbleby, courtesy of Singer Vehicle Design.
According to Fawaz, the car’s first official event is likely to be the National Off-Road Racing Association’s Yokohama Mexican 1000 in April. As soon as the delivery of the two vehicles – one in Parallax White and the other, more adapted for paved explorations, in Corsica Red – is made for the commissioning customer, the ACS package will be available to other Singer customers, with prices determined by the extension of modifications desired. Each example will be completed in the UK and comes with Tuthill’s and crew’s race support option.
Also inside are a protective cage, FIA certified racing seats and a hydraulic handbrake.
Photo by Nick Dimbleby, courtesy of Singer Vehicle Design.
Talking about the first car produced, Fawaz looks like a proud father. “It’s the perfect balance between inheritance and ability, and there’s no shortcut to that – it’s very Singer,” he says. “In our heads, we wouldn’t change that. And when you get there, it’s very exciting. “