It seems that automotive engineering requires a certain amount of modesty.
Instead of making their high-performance hybrid drivetrain undeniably present, the wizards at the Porsche tuned it to fit in seamlessly with the 608 horsepower gasoline V8. “All of this goes on behind the scenes, so transparently, so free of interference with the driver, that it seems as if it’s not happening at all—only the speed is real.”
Speaking of speed, a jab of the right pedal is bound to make the presence of a 129-horsepower electric motor in the front and a 156-horsepower unit in the rear known, especially when they join forces with that Le Mans-P2-prototype eight. Luckily, the traction and stability control system isn’t intrusive. “It will let you slide, countersteer, apply throttle to correct yaw, and more.”
Porsche’s technical tricksters even found a way to disguise the immensity of the 918 Spyder’s total output from the people in the leather/carbon fiber/aluminum cockpit. No having to muscle the hypercar or deal with rough-edged behavior around town. Its steering, brakes and throttle are traffic-friendly. (This Porsche sounds as if it’s the only vehicle that’s a sleeper to its own driver.)
I have a feeling switching the $845,000 P-car into Hot Lap mode, which goes to “the absolute limits of the battery and electric motors, tapping all of the available energy for the fastest single lap time possible,” could wake anyone up, though.
Give the video below a look-see to catch the 918 in action.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
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