Porsche
918 RSR Concept
The Porsche
918 RSR concept car debuted at the 2011 North American International
Auto Show was, not surprisingly, met with rave reviews and not
a small amount of gawking. After a three-year hiatus from the
Detroit venue, Porsche spared no expense or technological ingenuity
with this new spin on the "traditional" hybrid, resulting
in superior mechanical features.
The Porsche
918 RSR concept car was indeed worth the wait. And no one can
accuse the designers of skimping on the bells and whistles either.
Here's the specs:
Porsche more
than delivered on its promise of a 500 plus hp version after its
unveiling of the Spyder at the 2010 Geneva auto show. The 918
RSR combines a direct injection V8 with dual 75 kW electric motors
to achieve a jaw-dropping 767hp capability. And if that's not
enough to convince you that this is not your run-of-the mill racecar,
the 10,300 rpm output is enough to seal the deal.
Unlike a
typical hybrid, the RSR's electric motors fire the front half
of the vehicle only and charge upon braking rather than relying
on a battery pack, resulting in a light-weight, energy efficient
power-source. Unlike the Spyder which was reportedly able to power
itself for sixteen miles, the RSR uses the brake to charge for
up to eight seconds, sacrificing longevity for the quick bursts
of power necessary for a racecar. This design further advances
the car's competitiveness on the track by decreasing the weight
of the gasoline tank and lessening potential pit stops.
In the words
of Porsche's chief designer, Michael Mauer, the 918 is not only
a tribute to the Porsche 917 that took home the 24 Hours of Le
Mans trophy in 1971(thus, the number 22 showcased on the car's
hood as well as on its wing doors), but it is a testimony to the
world that Porsche is still the leader in race-car designing.
Considering that this two-seater with an on-board engine enhanced
by flywheel technology boasting 36,000 rpms, who can disagree?
Not only
is this car a work of mechanical and engineering genius, but it's
not hard to look at either. The sleekly-designed racecar gleams
of liquid blue chrome and is adorned with Porsche's signature
orange stripes from front to back.
The dramatically
angular spoiler and the sculpted wheel arches are the marks of
a traditionally testosterone-driven racecar while the visible
fan wheel on the top rear is evidence that there's really nothing
traditional about what Porsche itself calls a laboratory experiment
racecar. The brown leather interior conveys both simplicity and
rugged masculinity, and the basic console and driver displays
offset the complexity of the exposed engine.
There's no
doubt this car will be both a beauty and a beast on the track,
and who knows, depending on what Porsche has up its sleeve, we
may just see a street version in the not-so-distant future.
|
