Evo Takes the 918 Hybrid Out for a Spin

We already have a pretty solid idea of what the 918 looks like thanks to the concept’s debut last year. There’s no doubt this car’s styling is inspired by the late Carrera GT, which is great, because the Carrera GT’s styling was as sharp as a razor. The performance matched it’s edgy look, and the 918 seems like it’ll follow in the footsteps of it’s predecessor. But enough about the looks, the really interesting stuff is sitting underneath the sheet metal.

It’s a hybrid. That word alone brings out all kinds of negative mental images of battery powered Chevys and anemic Prii running around, clogging up the road way with their “efficiency” and “MPGs.” With the 918, Porsche is essentially turning the model for hybrids on it’s head. In this case the electric motors use their instantaneous and prodigious torque to drive the front wheels. The main show, however is the 4.6L V8 pumping out 562 bhp to the rear wheels.

Heresy? Maybe, but anyone who’s gotten an AWD sideways unexpectedly knows how useful having power to the front wheels can be. Having a way to balance the finicky nature of the car while retaining the scalpel sharp handling of the Carrera GT is a win in our book.