It doesn't take a Shaquille O'Neal
commercial to realize that hybrid cars have suffered from a chronically wonky
style. Often shaped like a wedge of cheese, it has been increasingly confusing
why hybrid car manufacturers don't seem to put any effort into design. An
additional pre-conception about hybrids is that they don't perform up to the
standard of traditional 'gas only' automobiles. This is a more understandable
issue that is dissipating since the capability of hybrids has improved as the
technology has evolved.
Porsche is poised to blow the lid off
both these stereotypes. The 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder is by far the coolest
looking hybrid to come along, and it's not that it's cool for a hybrid; it's
just cool. It can go zero to sixty in 3.1 seconds, while getting 78 MPG. The
918 is the first hybrid super car. Being a super car means most
people can't afford it with its $845,000 sticker price.
Since the price is so high, more is
also expected from it. As such a review from Edmunds does have some points of
criticism. The electric motor doesn't make much noise, and doesn't have the
same feel as a gas engine. They state that this makes it lack character. Also
the performance for this level of car is not flawless. However, Edmunds does
admit that Porsche has shown that if their first generation car has
flaws, they have been known to come back and fix those, then go
beyond everyone’s expectation. This is still a new technology, and this is a
huge step forward in performance.
It will be interesting to see the
market for the car, and the sales numbers. The price obviously makes the target
market rather small to begin with. Will that market embrace a hybrid? Could
there be cache to owning the first hybrid super car? Will Porsche be able to
reach out to wealthy 'green people' to invest in a car they may not normally
sink their money into?
Don't have the anser to that, but do hope I get to see this car in person some day.
Porsche 918 Spyder Press Release (Specs & Photos included)
