When the first rumors of the big names in the go-fast industry building hybrid hypercars appeared, panic was one of the first natural reactions. One didn’t know what to expect from a heavy (read: literally heavy, as on the scale) dose of electricity injected into machines that required such delicate balance.
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
So while the engineering curiosity did make us expect the new wave of petrol-electric hypercar, those rumors made us love the “old school” heroes even more. We’re talking about stuff like the Porsche Carrera GT here.
Well, now that the 918 Spyder is upon us, we can all enjoy the benefits of hybridisation. And while we can’t offer you a shotgun ride in each of the car, so you can see how the new tech has shaped the car’s character, we can show you what the hybrid power does in a straight line.
The footage below brings us a drag race between the 918 Spyder and the Carrera GT and the difference is astonishing.
Given the added weight of the battery pack and the electric motors, the horsepower difference (887 vs 612 PS) isn’t exactly what it seems. Still, the CGT comes with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.5 kg per PS, while the 918 Spyder offers 2 kg per PS.
The 918 can deal with the quarter mile in under 10 seconds, while the Carrera GT requires over one extra second for the job. Another indicator of how much the tech has evolved comes from the braking distances (124 mph/200 km/h to standstill): under 123 meters for the hybrid and below 134 meters for the V10 machine.
As for the real world difference, AWD vs. RWD standing start included, this lies behind the “play” button below. Remember, the two are separated by approximately a decade of Porsche engineering.
Well, now that the 918 Spyder is upon us, we can all enjoy the benefits of hybridisation. And while we can’t offer you a shotgun ride in each of the car, so you can see how the new tech has shaped the car’s character, we can show you what the hybrid power does in a straight line.
The footage below brings us a drag race between the 918 Spyder and the Carrera GT and the difference is astonishing.
On paper
Given the added weight of the battery pack and the electric motors, the horsepower difference (887 vs 612 PS) isn’t exactly what it seems. Still, the CGT comes with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.5 kg per PS, while the 918 Spyder offers 2 kg per PS.
The 918 can deal with the quarter mile in under 10 seconds, while the Carrera GT requires over one extra second for the job. Another indicator of how much the tech has evolved comes from the braking distances (124 mph/200 km/h to standstill): under 123 meters for the hybrid and below 134 meters for the V10 machine.
As for the real world difference, AWD vs. RWD standing start included, this lies behind the “play” button below. Remember, the two are separated by approximately a decade of Porsche engineering.
Google News