Kalmar 9X9 Restomod Hits The Nürburgring, But It Doesn’t Go According To Plan

Kalmar Automotive loves fitting an old Porsche 911 with an electric powertrain, but it’s also got an interest in combustion cars. Among them are the 7-97 C1 and the subject of today’s article, the Kalmar 9X9. This restomod blends styling elements of the Porsche 959 hypercar and Porsche 935 racer, and with looks like those, it needs to provide as much bite as it does bark.

Unfortunately, the video clip doesn’t fully document Kalmar’s time at the ‘Ring, and although this test vehicle is being driven hard, it’s not exactly pushing the limits. Still, the exhaust note seems pleasant enough for a turbocharged vehicle.

Not All Going According To Plan

The 9X9 is available in three different styles, including one with the naturally aspirated engine of the GT3. The most hardcore configuration is said to be capable of lapping the Nürburgring in 7 minutes flat, which is in the same ballpark as the ludicrous Rimac Nevera hypercar. Unfortunately, while Kalmar’s simulations say it’s possible, that won’t be happening anytime soon.

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Spy shots obtained by Carscoops show this same prototype stopped trackside on the Nordschleife after a mechanical gremlin of some sort. It’s unclear which version of the 9X9 this is, but with the restomod boasting features like active engine mounts and bespoke double-wishbone suspension, anything could be at fault. Then again, it’s also entirely possible (albeit unlikely) that the prototype simply ran out of gas.

Three Powertrains From Mild To Wild

Kalmar’s 9X9 is intended to provide three different experiences for buyers of different variants. The regular 9X9 is a grand tourer with over 900 horsepower, taking the 911 Turbo’s 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged engine to new heights. The 9X9 Sport’s 3.0-liter turbo flat-six promises around 30% less power than the range-topper, so it should be more manageable, but those who want the most engaging experience will want the 9X9 Leichtbau, which uses the aforementioned GT3’s soon-to-be-extinct 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six. Whichever you opt for, you’ll be spending north of $2 million. Hopefully, any gremlins will be worked out before deliveries of the 27 examples slated for production begin.

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