Porsche is a company that has given us some brilliant cars over the years. Iconic cars, really. You only have to look at the likes of the ever-popular 911 to confirm that, in its many different variants. Or you could look to newer cars in the company's lineup, like the 718 Cayman GT4 — regarded by Evo as an 'instant modern classic' — or the fully electric Taycan, which has looks, performance, and refinement that's top of its class.
But, every now and again, Porsche dips its toes into the hypercar world, and whenever it does, the result is something on a whole different level. Something that truly pushes the boundaries when it comes to speed. The last one to be developed by the company, the Porsche 918 Spyder that debuted in 2013, is confirmation of that. It's a car that is, in every sense of the word, the pinnacle of automotive engineering, with performance that only the very best can compete with.
Anyway, on that note, let's take a look at the Porsche 918 Spyder and see what its best feature is.
A Look At The History Behind The Porsche 918 Spyder
2013 wasn’t the first time Porsche had created a hypercar, though, with the Porsche 959 entering into production in 1987. It was originally intended to be developed for Group B homologation — you know, the era of brutal rally cars — to compete on track with the likes of the Ferrari 288 GTO.
Either way, the result was still mind-blowing. It came with a Le Mans-derived, 2.8-liter flat-six with twin turbochargers, developing 444 HP at 6,500 RPM and 369 lb-ft of torque at 5,000. Enough, then, to take the 959 from a standstill to sixty in 3.7 seconds and go on to achieve 197 MPH.
Then, of course, you had the Porsche Carrera GT in 2003, which took things to another level. It came with a 5.7-liter, naturally-aspirated V10 that developed 603 HP at 8,000 rpm and 435 lb-ft of torque at 5,750. The result? Zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 206 MPH. Porsche really had set the benchmark for what it means to be a hypercar, then.
This Is The Best Feature Of The Porsche 918 Spyder
So, when the Porsche 918 Spyder came along, the expectations were high. And Porsche certainly didn’t disappoint. Again, the company looked to its Le Mans cars for a little assistance, borrowing the V8 from the RS Spyder.
But the 918 marked a step into a new direction for Porsche, as two electric motors were thrown into the equation, as well. On its own, the electric motors would provide 279 HP — a figure that’s impressive as it is — which is boosted to a monstrous 887 horses when you factor in the combustion engine.
This, combined with the fact the 918 Spyder is predominantly made of carbon fiber, makes for a car that’s insanely quick. We’re talking zero to sixty in 2.2 seconds and a top speed of 214 MPH quick. And because of those mind-blowing figures, the 918 Spyder’s engine has to be considered as its best feature, even though the car is incredible in every other area.