From Guest Blogger Christopher Austin: Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Supercar – Eco-friendly and Luxurious

(Note: Calling a car with a 608 HP 8-cylinder engine “eco-friendly” is REALLY misusing the phrase, but whatever; I let guest bloggers say pretty much what they want. -ed)

Luxury cars are in trend right now, and it looks like major car manufacturers have already started focusing more on eco-friendly engines. From Rolls Royce to BMW, every famous brand seems to have thought of a hybrid for their line of exclusive vehicles. Porsche has recently joined the group, too. The company’s latest 918 Spyder is a hybrid supercar.

Monster engine

To be able generate engine thrust of 880 BHP, Porsche assembled a main power source: a V8 engine that generates 608 BHP that get coupled with a 116 BHP motor in the front and with a 156 rear-side electric engine. The fact that the engine is so powerful might be the reason why the manufacturers decided on 5 driving modes, depending on various conditions and they’re meant to optimize the car’s performance levels. If you’re searching for speed thrills, you probably should know that Porsche 918 Spyder can go from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 8 seconds the moment you placed your foot on the accelerator.

Running modes

We mentioned that Porsche’s 918 Spyder has 5 different driving modes. E-Driving mode lets the car run solely on battery power by using the electric motor on the front and rear; thus providing a range of 18 miles. With a full tank of gas and a fully charged batter, the total range would be somewhere at 420 miles. With E-Drive, the car is able to reach 93 mph. As for the 2 hybrid driving modes – Race and Hybrid – these use the gas and the electric engine to render desired performance economy levels. In Race mode, the Hot Lap setting is initiated by pressing the puss-to-pass button (meant to provide extra electrical power).

Astounding visuals

From a visual perspective, Porsche 918 Spyder looks like the most luxurious race cars. It features heavy sculpted flanks and it comes with a really low front end. Packed with all sorts of air vents, the monster car highlights fiber aerodynamic add-ons and an air diffuser that’s integrated into the center-locking wheels and the rear bumper. To give this Porsche a race appeal, the tires are low profiled, thus making it inimitable.

The cockpit is embellished with brushed aluminum and carbon fiber. The interior is driver-focused and separated into 2 basic areas: controls that important for the driving and controls that are not so important. The driver of the vehicle is at liberty to configure the TFT (thin film transistor) screen, which is on the instrument cluster. He can also switch the 5 driving modes available and change gears by using the paddle positioned behind the wheel.

Equipment

The latest and most advanced version of the Porsche 918 Spyder comes with power windows that are maneuvered with a single touch operation. Among some of the car’s additional features as well as Porsche tuning parts and spares, we should also mention rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated door mirrors (fully electric), reverse camera, LED headlights, Alcantara upholstery, leather upholstery, and more.

Stunning design

Porsche 918 Spyder prides with a stunning exterior and interior design. It is surprisingly efficient and brilliantly built. The manufacturing company has been focusing its attention on hybrid cars. They want to make them more eco-friendly but without compromising on speed. The 918 Spyder is the start of a new era; an era of hybrid race cars. Similar in design to the acclaimed Carrera GT supercar, Porsche 918 Spyder brings the best in Porsche to the surface.

Steering is crisp and extremely precise. There’s also an energy recovery system available, as well as conventional hydraulic brakes if you miss driving the old-fashioned way. Featuring the smoothest, most alluring curves, Porsche’s latest 918 has an organic design too. It performs excellently on the street and it packs a killer electric engine. The hybrid is driver-focused and it highlights clean industrial lines. According to the manufacturers, only 918 variants of this model will be available for purchase. The car is available at a starting price of $845,000 and it is without a doubt a jewel worth taking for a test drive.

Get ready to be blown away as Porsche has done it again. The 918 Spyder is fierce. It’s safe to say that it is a perfect combination of a race car and a hybrid.