Proving once again just how serious they are about getting into (and dominating) the hybrid game, Porsche took their 918 plug-in hybrid to the pebble beach concours. Porsche have been developing their hybrid technology on the racetrack including at the Nurburgring 24 hours. This is a video from a few days before the appearance at pebble beach. the video includes some very interesting insight from michael mauer, Porsche ag design chief:
"when we started the 918 spyder project we decided we will try to keep it a secret
it is a vision for the future of the brand
the importance of this car was that due to the environment discussion there were big big question marks about the future of this type of cars and therefore as well of the future of the Porsche brand. so therefore we wanted to have the symbol that there is a future
we are using a technology that is pointing out what could be in the future but is still realistic to have it today in the car
we test in the race to be sure that it is the right technology, the right combination of components.
the next step is to move to production
the most important message is that there is no contradiction any more between performance between having fun driving and this whole environmental discussion
we are combining the best of different worlds"
