Porsche surprised everyone at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show with their 918 Syper Hybrid concept car. Their idea - a supercar that has the fuel economy of a compact hatchback and the performance of a, well yes, a supercar.
The car is powered with a 500 bhp V8 gasoline engine together with 2 electric motors with 218 bhp bringing the total to 718 bhp - an incredible performance. However, the unbelievable part is that despite this mind-blowing performance, it has the fuel economy of a toyota hatchback - 78 miles per gallon.
This all sounds too good to be true. Sadly, because it is. Its claims are - Having a top speed of 198 mph, 3.2 seconds acceleration time yet a fuel economy of 78 miles to a gallon. However, there are 4 different driving modes, each made for these different purposes.
There is the E-drive mode, a fully electric mode in which the 78 miles to the gallon is achieved. However, the range is only 16 miles in this mode. In the hybrid mode, power is modulated between the gas engine and electric motors in some thrifty but largely unexplained manner. The performance in this mode is not given. The Sport Hybrid mode produces more power, but with torque vectoring, and a power-biased rear-wheel. Last but definitely not least, there is the race hybrid mode, where full power is used making the car able to achieve the crazily high numbers of acceleration and speed, but this mode can only be used with a full charge of battery.
Therefore, from this, a lesson is also learnt - When something is too good to be true, it probably is.
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