A lot of people avoid hybrid cars because they don't believe the technology offers enough power or fun. If the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid didn't change your mind, then it's time to meet the 918 Spyder, Porsche's latest, greatest hybrid sports car. No matter what you think about hybrid cars, this lightweight sports car shows that hybrid technology can churn out plenty of power and thrills.
The Best of Combustion and Electric Motors
Porsche made the 918 Spyder faster than nearly every car in the world by combining the best of combustion and electric motor technology. The eight-cylinder combustion engine churns out a whopping 608 horsepower. The two electric motors add 286 hp for a total of 887 hp.
That gives the 918 Spyder so much power that it completed a lap at Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:57 minutes, beating the previous record of seven minutes.
Put all doubts to rest. This is a powerful sports car that doesn't mind going head-to-head with any combustion engine... And it does all this with getting 67 MPGe.
Drivers get to decide how much power the 918 Spyder uses. With five different modes to choose from, they can choose to rely exclusively on the electric motors, the combustion engine, or a combination.
The right choice depends on the driving conditions and expected power. Regardless, the driver gets to decide. That's an innovative approach that will make hybrid technology increasingly useful in upcoming years, especially for high-performance cars.
The Benefits of a Lightweight Design
The 918 Spyder's excellent performance and fuel efficiency gets help from a lightweight design. Porsche completely redesigned the driver and passenger seats so that they would offer maximum comfort without adding much weight to the vehicle.
Carbon fiber-reinforced seats reduce weight while expertly positioned features keep passengers comfortable and safe. The Porsche engineers even included airbags and headrests in the bucket seat design to keep it as light as possible. Of course, other weight-reducing elements throughout the vehicle improve fuel-efficiency while letting the 918 Spyder reach higher speeds.
Moving Sports Car Technology Into the Future
The Porsche 918 Spyder is the one of the first car to receive global road homologation. No matter where it goes, it meets the highest standards.
It also meets the highest standards of discerning drivers. A unique three-spoke steering wheel design puts offers an intuitive layout that puts every features within reach. The steering wheel includes paddle shifters for the PDK, cruise control, and buttons to switch between modes. A seven-inch touchscreen makes it simple for the driver to control music, temperature, vehicle settings, and other features.
The bottom line is that drivers always feel in control of the vehicle, even when they need to make adjustments while driving.
The Porsche 918 Spyder stands out as one of the most innovative high-performance hybrid cars ever built. That's not surprising, given Porsche's commitment to excellence.
Perhaps most important, though, is for drivers to realize that this hybrid vehicle is more than a regular sports car. It can perform well on the racetrack, but it's also useful as a daily driver. It not only exceeds the expectations of drivers who look upon hybrid vehicles with suspicious. It also exceeds the expectations of those who think that high-performance vehicles aren't suitable for their daily commutes. No matter where drivers want to go, the Porsche 918 Spyder can get them there.
What's even more exciting, though, is that the 918 Spyder points towards a future of new developments that will change the way people think about hybrid technology. If you're someone who doesn't think a hybrid car can compete against combustion vehicles, Porsche has just proven you wrong.
That's a good thing. It shows that the best car companies have engineers working on projects that will make driving fun and better for the environment without making anyone give up the thrills they expect from high-performance sports cars.
