The Porsche 918 Spyder has broken yet another lap record at the Nurburgring. Will Audi and Mercedes follow suit?
When a German carmaker brakes a world lap record at the famous Nurburgring, you know the local competition heats up with more record attempts. This time it’s Porsche’s fabulous 918 that once again breaks another record on the famous German race track at the Nordschleife part of the track.
Another Porsche 918 Record
The Porsche 918 Spyder has lapped the 20.6-kilometer (12.80 miles) track in six minutes and 57 seconds, shaving 14 seconds off its previous record. With an average speed of 179.5 km/h (111.53 MPH) Both cars delivered 887 HP (652 kW) and were equipped with the optional “Weissach package”, which increases the driving dynamics. They used the Michelin tires, specifically developed for the 918 Spyder.
According to Wolfgang Hatz, member of the Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of Research and Development, on MotorSport: “We promised a great deal with the 918 Spyder, namely to redefine driving pleasure, efficiency and performance. We have kept our word.”
More Then Just Another Porsche
The new 918 is more than just another Porsche. This is Porsche consolidating its role as an exotic sports car leader, but also as embracing the potential electric motors that deliver 100% available torque as soon as they spin.
Exotic and high-end performance car makers face the same dilemma; how to squeeze more efficiency out of an otherwise inefficient opposing piston engine design. A few pushed the envelop of internal combustion engines to what seems as extremes, such as the Mazda Skyactiv technology, but the writing is on the wall. The electric motor is the easiest and best way to raise performance, while lowering gasoline consumption.
In essence, the 918 is the future platform for Porsche’s next generation of performance cars. And according to Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project: “The lap time on the Nordschleife is and remains the toughest measure of a super sportscar. Posting a time of 6.57 minutes, we achieved a result of which everyone in the development team and at Porsche as a whole is rightly proud.”
The Porsche 918 is all about plug-in hybrid power and performance, and heralds a new era of high-end performance sports car with electric motors.
