The Porsche of Huntsville showroom is elegant and
sophisticated, and on Thursday, August 6th the excitement in the
room was at an all-time high. It is not
every day you get to see a million dollar car up close and personal. The
dealership had the exclusive opportunity to order a limited edition car for a local
car collector, and what a pleasant surprise they received when offered the
opportunity for Porsche of Huntsville to have a “First Look” or exclusive showcase of this vehicle after its
arrival.
The owner was more than willing
to allow this extraordinary car to be the center of attention for the evening. When you consider for a moment that only 918
of these Porsche Spyders will ever be built, it makes you wonder if any other
owners in the United States allowed their local dealership to extend this
special treat to local Porsche enthusiasts. The showroom was filled with local
VIP’s, salespersons, service team members, as well as local Porsche club
members who wanted to see this spectacle that Porsche had built. This modern
marvel called the 918 Spyder sits on a prestigious shelf among other Supercars,
but the Hybrid aspect makes it just a little bit more special.
As the guests arrived, General Manager George Jones (Century
Automotive Group) graciously welcomed everyone to the special event. Tracy Jones (President-Century Automotive
Group) was also on hand to share in this once in a lifetime experience. You
could sense the excitement they both shared as they were about to showcase a
rarely-seen marvel from Porsche with clients, friends and family.
The 918 was draped in a silk car cover and surrounded by caution
barricades as if to warn the onlookers that they should approach with extreme
care. Like a red carpet event in Hollywood,
there was no question about who was the star of the night. The buzz in the room
continued to build until George finally gave a short speech and then turned the
event over to Mark Fry (Porsche Sales) who began to chronicle the car in great
detail as the cover was removed.
It was
difficult for the crowd to remain silent as the dazzling work of art Porsche
had built was revealed, and they began to lean into the barricades to get a
closer look and photograph the 200 mph supercar.
At every turn the room filled with more questions about the
car, so let’s look at the stats of this very special ride:
Engine/Horsepower
– Complex, but here it goes: Both electric motors combine for a whopping 285
HP, and when working in conjunction with the 608 HP 4.6 liter V8 produces a
staggering 887 HP!
Torque – Estimated
830 lb. ft. to all four wheels
Transmission –
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Top Speed – 214
mph
Zero to 60 mph –
2.2 sec.
Quarter Mile –
9.8 sec.
Braking - 70-0
mph 142 feet
Curb Weight –
3724 lbs.
Price – MSRP
starts at $847,975 (Price as equipped $1.12M)
The launch control system on the 918 takes the guesswork and
stress out of the equation when testing this high-tech Porsche. The tiny amount
of wheels spin at launch is partially achieved by its massive 325/30ZR/21 Michelin
Pilot Sport Cup 2 rear tires (a mere $729 per tire). In a recent Car and Driver article the author
referred to the power-train behavior as an “On-Demand Explosion” and for good
reason. It’s been said that the driver can mash the gas pedal to the floor at
any time and the power plant will ignite like a stick of dynamite
The engineering feats used on this vehicle are too numerous
to mention, but the extensive use of carbon fiber in the 918 helps in two
areas: the overall weight reduction of the car and the rigid construction.
Air ducts, scoops, and spoilers helps channel
the airflow where Porsche wants it to both help cool the rear mounted engine and
aid in down force of the car…after all, with the mind-numbing speeds this car
is capable of, every bit of aerodynamic advantage needs to be utilized. Last but certainly not least is the gorgeous
paint that the owner specifically chose to make the car unique. The color,
Liquid Metal Chrome Blue, was adorned with custom painted graphics that are one
of a kind and added to the allure of this beautiful beast. The owner bumped up
and added the “Weissach” Package which includes upgrades too many to list, but
came loaded with weight reducing options to help achieve the quickest possible
times intended by Porsche as they designed this vehicle. This special package
was named from the German town where Porsche’s R&D factory is located.
As the special night came to a close, it was safe to say the
experience was electrifying and the guest were still buzzing as they left the
showroom. I’m sure they had already tagged themselves in a selfie or two as
they captured the once in a lifetime thrill. My only question is what Porsche
of Huntsville will do to top this great event…guess we will have to drop by
soon to find out!
Porsche of Huntsville is always ready to provide optimal
customer service, however setting up a test drive of this vehicle may prove to
be difficult because this one is sold and the proud owner is probably out
enjoying this wickedly fast ride as we speak. One thing we know for certain is
when he does take it out for a spin, it will most definitely turn some heads!
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