Around the North Loop in 6 min 57 sec.
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From: Oregon
As impressive as the time was, the fact that he bottomed out repeatedly is going to be a big problem for Porsche. Owners will take their cars to the 'Ring and damage them severely.
The Enzo had the same thing happen there until the computer shut down the suspension and put the car into limp mode, ruining their chance for a decent lap time.
The Enzo had the same thing happen there until the computer shut down the suspension and put the car into limp mode, ruining their chance for a decent lap time.
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As impressive as the time was, the fact that he bottomed out repeatedly is going to be a big problem for Porsche. Owners will take their cars to the 'Ring and damage them severely.
The Enzo had the same thing happen there until the computer shut down the suspension and put the car into limp mode, ruining their chance for a decent lap time.
The Enzo had the same thing happen there until the computer shut down the suspension and put the car into limp mode, ruining their chance for a decent lap time.
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From: Longmont, CO
Interesting bit of trivia: Watch the right-hand gauge in the instrument cluster. The one that says "BOOST." They one that starts out with a full white ring around it, which is depleted by the end of the lap. From this, I guess we can assume that the 918 can't quite store enough electricity for a complete lap around the Nurburgring?
With just a bit more juice, I think Porsche could have gotten some even quick laps - during the last, long straight the speedo never goes over 280 or 290 kph. Earlier in the lap the car was hitting over 300 kph in short straights.
That's one thing about this car (and possibly the new NSX) that doesn't thrill me - after just seven minutes of track time, you no longer have full electric power available. Sure, you get some back from KERS, but it's not enough to provide full power during all WOT times. I like the concept of powering the front wheels with electrics, but if I was designing these new hybrid supercars I'd set a goal of having consistent performance all the time. Like Porsche's 911 GT3 that had a flywheel for KERS energy storage. Do ultracaps these days store enough storage capacity for, say, braking from 150 mph to 50 mph?
With just a bit more juice, I think Porsche could have gotten some even quick laps - during the last, long straight the speedo never goes over 280 or 290 kph. Earlier in the lap the car was hitting over 300 kph in short straights.
That's one thing about this car (and possibly the new NSX) that doesn't thrill me - after just seven minutes of track time, you no longer have full electric power available. Sure, you get some back from KERS, but it's not enough to provide full power during all WOT times. I like the concept of powering the front wheels with electrics, but if I was designing these new hybrid supercars I'd set a goal of having consistent performance all the time. Like Porsche's 911 GT3 that had a flywheel for KERS energy storage. Do ultracaps these days store enough storage capacity for, say, braking from 150 mph to 50 mph?
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From: Queen City, NC
That's one thing about this car (and possibly the new NSX) that doesn't thrill me - after just seven minutes of track time, you no longer have full electric power available. Sure, you get some back from KERS, but it's not enough to provide full power during all WOT times. I like the concept of powering the front wheels with electrics, but if I was designing these new hybrid supercars I'd set a goal of having consistent performance all the time. Like Porsche's 911 GT3 that had a flywheel for KERS energy storage. Do ultracaps these days store enough storage capacity for, say, braking from 150 mph to 50 mph?
Once the battery is depleted, its just 200 pounds of dead weight.