NAIAS 2011: Porsche 918 RSR

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

How’s this for a way to kick off a car show? The Porsche 918 RSR looks tastier than the complimentary breakfast that preceded its launch this morning, all gullwings and gleaming sidepipes. Its direct-injected V8 makes 563 HP at a dizzying 10,300 RPM, and electric torque-vectoring motors on the front wheels add a combined 150 kW, for a total power output of 767 HP. Porsche says the interior is more “gentleman’s racer”-oriented than the 918 Concept… but what gentleman makes his consort sit atop the energy-storing flywheel that replaces the passenger seat? And don’t get us (specifically Jack Baruth) started on the copious 917 references in Porsche’s promotional literature. Still, this Porsche is hard not to like… right down to the giant orange “Hybrid” splashed across its rear wing.





Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Nick Nick on Jan 10, 2011

    'what gentleman makes his consort sit atop the energy-storing flywheel that replaces the passenger seat?' If you have enough money to buy this, your consort will be willing to sit anywhere.

  • Saponetta Saponetta on Jan 10, 2011

    Don't know why everyone is commenting on the flywheel. You are probaly 100,000x more likely to be injured or die exploring this or any other cars performance limits than some freak accident with an exploding flywheel on a PRODUCTION car.

  • Redapple2 Telluride over Acadian (sic-tip cap-canada). 1 better car. 2 60 % us/can content vs 39 THIRTY NINE for an "American" car. 3 no UAW labor. Smart people drive Tellurides. Not so smart for the GMC. Dont support the Evil GM Vampire.!
  • Theflyersfan My dad had a 1998 C280 that was rock solid reliable until around 80,000 miles and then it wasn't. Corey might develop a slight right eyelid twitch right about now, but it started with a sunroof that leaked. And the water likely damaged some electric components because soon after the leaks developed, the sunroof stopped working. And then the electrical gremlins took hold. Displays that flickered at times, lights that sometimes decided illumination was for wimps so stayed home, and then the single wiper issue. That thing decided to eat motors. He loved that car but knew when to fold the hand. So he bought a lightly used, off lease E-class. Had that for less than two years before he was ready to leave it in South Philly, keys in the ignition, doors unlocked, and a "Take it please" sign on the windshield. He won't touch another Benz now.
  • Detlump A lot of people buy SUVs because they're easier to get in and out of. After decades of longer, lower, wider it was refreshing to have easier ingress/egress offered by an SUV.Ironically, the ease of getting in and out of my Highlander is very similar to my 56 Cadillac.
  • Redapple2 LP Michigan. Long straights. A long sweeper. 2 chicanes. 4 hard turns. Lenghts of each element are different but similar to LeMans.
  • Teddyc73 Doesn't matter, out of control Democrats will still do everything they can to force us to drive them.
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