Porsche is auctioning off a full-size replica of its 919 Hybrid Le Mans car

By Stephen Edelstein Published June 9, 2015

This Saturday at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, three Porsche 919 Hybrid race cars will line up on the grid for one of racing’s most brutal challenges. Normally, it takes skill, dedication, and low body mass to join the elite group of drivers that pilot these Porsches, but now there’s a much easier way.

Porsche’s Asia Pacific division is auctioning off a full-size 919 Hybrid replica on eBay for charity. So while you won’t be able to do a stint at Le Mans, you might be able to get behind the wheel of a 919, if you’ve got the cash.

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What Porsche calls a “1:1 scale model car” is one a handful of non-functioning mockups built primarily for display and for use by engineers working on the actual race cars (pictured above).

All proceeds from the auction will benefit the SportCares Foundation and Movement, a Singapore-based charity organization that works with underprivileged youth, seniors, people with physical or intellectual disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups.

The auction opened Monday and runs through Sunday. The highest bid for the car was $7,370 at the time of publication. The winning bid will not only buy the car, but also a trip to Singapore for a Porsche event celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary in the region.

The real 919 Hybrid racers that will hit the track at Le Mans this weekend feature a complex powertrain design, comprising a 2.0-liter turbocharged V4 engine, electric motor, and an energy-recovery system that can harvest electricity from braking and from the V4’s exhaust gases.

Porsche returned to Le Mans last year after a long absence, and while it was fast, the 919 Hybrid just wasn’t reliable enough to beat the dominant cars from Porsche’s corporate cousin, Audi.

The 919 Hybrid will once again face off against Audi’s R18 e-tron quattro, as well as Toyota’s TS040 Hybrid and the newcomer Nissan GT-R LM NISMO. With four radically different designs vying for the overall victory, it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting Le Mans races in years.

Porsche still holds the record for overall wins at 16, but its last win was way back in 1998. If it manages to end that dry spell on Sunday, that 919 replica could suddenly increase in value.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
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Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
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That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

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“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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