Porsche calls the new 918 RSR proof that it plans to continue building the best sports cars and racing cars, even as efficiency becomes increasingly important. If the slick racer unveiled at the Detroit auto show is any indication, Porsche will change what people think when they hear the words “hybrid car.”
The 918 is powered by a 563-horsepower, 3.4-liter V-8 with an additional 204 ponies on tap, thanks to a flywheel that spins up during braking. That flywheel generates electricity at the push of a button to power a pair of electric motors driving the front wheels.
Porsche provided a pair of videos detailing the car, along with another video featuring the 911 GT3 R hybrid racer that’s been on the racing circuit for awhile now. The 911 GT3 R was the testbed for the flywheel system used in the 918 RSR.
