Red Bull Helped Singer Fix One of the Porsche 911’s Biggest Weaknesses

Elevating an Already Iconic Formula

Singer Vehicle Design has an undeniable talent for restomodding classic Porsche 911s. But like any outfit, a strategic collaboration can further push the envelope, and since the Porsche specialist opted to work with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, it is without a doubt a partnership that promises something special.

Red Bull Advanced Technologies is the high-performance engineering consultancy shaped by the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, the multi-championship squad that regularly fights for race wins. The company applied its motorsport expertise to its collaboration with Singer, aiming to improve torsional rigidity in the Porsche 911 (964) Cabriolet and Targa – the open-roof versions of the German sports car.

A Structural Shortcoming by Design

Unlike coupes, 911 Cabriolets and Targas generally suffer from reduced torsional rigidity due to the absence of a fixed roof, which normally adds stiffness by tying the front and rear together. As a result, open-roof versions often deliver lower dynamic performance than their coupe counterparts in favor of an open-air driving experience.

That’s where the Singer–Red Bull collaboration comes in. The Porsche specialist leveraged Red Bull’s motorsport-derived technologies – including advanced simulation and structural analysis – to develop a 13-piece carbon-fiber reinforcement structure that strengthens the 964 while preserving its original chassis architecture. Red Bull says the torsional rigidity is increased by 175 percent without a significant weight penalty.

The increase in torsional rigidity improves handling by reducing chassis twist, particularly during hard cornering. Instead of the chassis absorbing the load, more of the stress is transferred to the suspension and wheels, which also enhances braking performance and overall refinement. Red Bull claims that, with its 13-piece carbon-fiber reinforcement structure, the open-roof models now match the driving experience of the coupe.

This Level of Engineering Comes at a Cost

Rob Gray, Technical Director of Red Bull Advanced Technologies, said, “The challenge
from Singer was to increase the stiffness of the open-roof Type 964, giving it the same dynamic performance as the coupe, while minimizing additional weight. The careful balancing of performance against weight is extremely familiar to us, and we’re delighted to have been able to support Singer and their clients with this solution.”

For performance enthusiasts who still want an open-air driving experience, the gains in torsional stiffness should be a major draw. However, such upgrades don’t come cheap. Singer is known for its eye-watering prices, with recent builds like the 911 DLS Turbo – dubbed “Sorcerer” – commanding figures as high as $3 million.

Red Bull, meanwhile, is also developing high-performance cars, including its latest project, the RB17, which features a 4.5-liter Cosworth hybrid V10 capable of revving to 15,000 rpm. Another notable project is the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which has since completed at the highest level of endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.