Edith: The Untold Story of Porsche's Record-Breaking Volcano Climb

Porsche’s Record-Breaking High-Altitude Attempt

Driven by the legendary endurance racer, Romain Dumas, the team pulled off the climb on December 2nd, 2023 ( December apparently is peak volcano-climbing season who knew?). Think warmish temperatures (well, for a volcano) and minimal precipitation – ideal conditions for pushing a car to its absolute limits. Of course, "ideal" is a relative term. Up there, temperatures plummet below freezing, and the air is thin enough to make supplemental oxygen mandatory.

How exactly Porsche squeezed enough oxygen into the flat-six engine to keep it chugging is a mystery we’re hoping the documentary solves. There’s far less oxygen at high altitudes. We do know some tidbits about Edith – she runs on fancy e-fuel and started life as a stock 992 Carrera 4S. The bespoke 911 that you’re looking at here, is more Frankenstein than the factory floor, sporting a reinforced chassis, portal axles, custom-built suspension to navigate lunar-like terrain, and a powertrain tuned for altitude efficiency – where every gasping breath of air is precious. You also can’t ignore the obvious but chunky off-road tires. The team also had a support vehicle named Doris, another 911 with slightly less extreme mods.

Now, let’s be real: nobody just "casually drives" to the top of a volcano. Unlike Lamborghini, who patted themselves on the back for taking a Lamborghini Urus up a high-altitude road in India (19,300 feet), Porsche went full send, no roads involved. And not just any car – a 911, of all things. Considering the previous record was set by a pair of Mercedes Unimogs climbing to 21,961 feet in 2020 (those things are basically built for this kind of punishment), attempting this feat in a Porsche was some next-level crazy.

Edith Volcano Ascent: The Film

This film, which is a collaboration between Tangent Vector and Porsche of North America will chronicle this four-year odyssey from concept to, well, volcanic summit. Narrated by videographer Niko Myyrä, who lived the agonizing ascent with the team and a small group of engineers, the film features interviews with key people of the project like Dumas himself and Oliver Blume, Chairman of Porsche AG.

Tangent Vector, isn’t shying away from the emotional and physical toll that the altitude and conditions took on the participants. You’ll get to see the grueling acclimatization process as the team prepared their bodies for the thin air and brutal conditions. The record-breaking Porsche 911 will also be on display at the event – a chance to see the machine that defied the odds in all its glory. Being screened at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey, tickets for the premiere are limited but are surprisingly affordable (under $30) considering it’s an official Porsche event. The show starts at 6:00 PM on August 16th at Monterey Car Week.