Hybrid hyperbole; why Porsche has made the wrong supercar to save us.

Geneva. The jewel in the European motor show crown, and choice venue for worthy world exclusives. This year was no different, with a host of fresh metal for the gathered motoring media to sink their teeth into. The main precursor to the 2010 Salon International de l’Auto was the Monday night Volkswagen Group preview evening – an opportunity for the German motoring giant to showcase the latest and greatest from its expansive stable.

The diminutive A1 supermini, Skodas hot Fabia vRS, and even an appearance from Justin Timberlake may have generated enough excitement to fill news editor inboxes the morning after. Instead, headlines were made when Porsche unveiled a surprise star of the show in the form of the 918 Spyder, a hybrid supercar that got everyones iPhone working overdrive. The saviour had been unveiled, albeit in concept form (for now).

..a measly 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and a Carrera GT beating Nordschleife lap time. Sound too good to be true?

It’s been a month since the doors closed at Geneva Palexpo, giving the monthly motoring press time to put together some thoughtful features about the worlds most exciting ‘green’ supercar. Evo magazine opened its May edition with a feature about the 918, with editor Nick Trotts introduction to the issue kicking off with an enthusiastic overview of its merits. Car magazine headed its April cover with ‘Porsche’s Miracle 918: The 200mph, 90mpg breakthrough’. The stats everyone’s getting excited about? Headline figures of over 700bhp, (215bhp from an electric motor, 500bhp from a race-spec V8), a measly 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and a Carrera GT beating Nordschleife lap time. Sound too good to be true?

Car Magazine cover - April 2010

The press release facts are headline-grabbers, promising monster power coupled with G-Wiz economy and Prius-baiting emissions. However, the greenie-pleasing 90mpg and low CO2 will only come when the Porsche is in electric-biased mode, with a measly 15 mile range and very little excitement behind the wheel. And that blast around Green Hell? The time appears to have been calculated virtually based on performance estimates and some clever algorithms (or guesswork), using the GT as a calibration comparison. In other words, it’s complete make-believe – Porsche have no idea how the car will actually handle until rubber meets tarmac and an experienced wheel-man gets his head around the alien weight distribution of the hybrid layout.

Of course, adding the mass of electric motors to an already lumpen V8 can mean only one thing, weight – 1490kg in total, over 100kg more than the Carrera GT with which it will share similar performance figures. Not clever, and certainly not worthy of the fuss and deceptive headline figures. As we enter a time when the rest of the mainstream motoring world are finally adopting the Colin Chapman mantra that less weight equals more efficient (and improved) performance, Porsche are willing to stake their first attempt at a green supercar in a V8 with heavy electric gubbins thrown in for good measure. The Mayor of London may be fooled by the hybrid badge, but the motoring press should be more responsible in their reaction to an overweight and deceptive concept which shows scant regard for the bigger picture – a clever solution is needed if we are to continue seeing desirable metal grace the pages of their publications for years to come.

I don’t believe the same reaction would be reserved for a Stateside attempt at the same trick; we would (rightfully) laugh them off the stands.

So why the enthusiastic reception from much of the motoring press? Porsche have an enviable reputation for delivering exceptional drivers cars, and until now no-one has offered a hybrid solution with production credentials that excite. The Spyders performance and looks are mouth-watering, the 918 taking its styling cues from the GT and recent Boxster Spyder to create a cohesive and striking supercar. However, looks alone cannot excuse the fact the 918 isn’t clever, light or efficient enough when used in performance mode to justify the ‘miracle’ tag irresponsibly applied to it. I don’t believe the same reaction would be reserved for a Stateside attempt at the same trick; we would (rightfully) laugh them off the stands.

Porsche 918 - Photo copyright: Porsche AG

So what would have impressed? Porsche are more than capable of pushing technological boundaries, and have a wealth of shared knowledge to deliver the first true hybrid supercar. Stuttgart’s finest could easily extract 200bhp from a more modest (and light) four-cylinder petrol unit, coupled with the 215bhp electric motors used in the 918. Lightweight, with over 400bhp and greatly reduced emissions in performance mode, plus the same opportunity to run on electricity alone around the city – this would have been worthy of the headlines garnered by the Spyder at this point in performance hybrid development. A Porsche of this specification may not give rivals a run for their money in the hills around Nürburg, but motoring enthusiasts would spy an honest opportunity to continue pursuing their passion in the not so distant future.

I love Porsche, I love the looks of the 918, and I know that the clever people in Stuttgart are best placed to give fellow petrolheads hope of performance motoring in years to come. I just hope it is with more intelligent solutions under the skin, and that our enthusiasm is reserved for more deserving attempts to solve a problem which deserves a thoughtful solution.