Porsche’s making some big big claims with the 918 Spyder, saying it will do zero to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds, top out at 198 mph and lap the famed Nurburgring in 7.5 minutes, beating even the incredible Carrera GT. All that acceleration comes from the aforementioned V-8 and an electric motor at each end putting down a combined 218 horsepower. Porsche cites 500 horsepower for the car, and we’re guessing that includes the engine and motors combined. That engine, by the way, was pulled from the RS Spyder race-car parts bin and reworked for the 918.
Is this going to be a golden age for the early adopters, with nicely overengineered electrical gubbins, that will be cost engineered down to something barely tolerable by the time it reaches the mass market, or is it fragile and a maintenance / repair timebomb?
I wouldn't kick it out of the garage, of course, but I'm not sure I'd want one. Too expensive (for me) to use as a track toy, too tempting to let loose on the road (and probably disappointingly overcompetent), and I don't want to just mimble around in it.
tl;dr: Give me a Caterham or other se7enesque and a bag'o'cash instead.
