918 Porsche Spyder is officially closer to production

[LongRanger]

. . . Are you sure the Panzers were diesel-electric? I thought they were plain diesel . . .

Actually, the 'Panther' and 'Tiger' tanks were gasoline-powered --- and shared the same engine. But I stand corrected --- both ran engines delivering their power through a gear-box. (Need to review those WW2 tank histories, more often.)

Porsche's involvement in tanks was with the Panzerkampfwagen VI, aka Tiger II or King Tiger. Porsche designed both a chassis and a turret, but lost to other designs. Their left-overs were then used to build the tank that I should have thinking of . . . the Elefant

. . . . The two Porsche air cooled engines in each vehicle were replaced by two 300 hp Maybach HL 120 TRM engines (also petrol ---I was wrong, again!) powering two generators that drove two electric motors which in turn powered the drive sprockets. The electric motors also acted as the vehicle's steering unit . . . so-called "petro-electrical" drive . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elefant

Elefant --- gotta love that name.

Rick Kreiskott

[LongRanger]

What a family tree, huh? . . .

1) Porsche's Elefant --- gasoline-electric drive, circa 1941-42

2) Porsche's Maus (German humor. Sheesh!) --- diesel-electric drive, circa 1943:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_VIII_Maus

(See! I knew the Old Man was messing with diesel-electrics --- just got my Panzers mixed-up!)

3) 918 Spyder --- gasoline-electric hybrid, circa 2010
Rick Kreiskott

[Fidalgo911]

Hah!! "Dorky Socialist People Mover". I love that, I'll be tucking that away to use when necessary (which is often here in the PNW).

[jeff eelkema]

I understand the Prius exceeds the max allowable safe EMF in Australia under heavy braking but have been allowed on the road due to the "green" upside

I have no desire to own a 918 but I have to admire Porsche's use of technology in this and the hybrid GT3 racer. Once again they are pushing the envelope and doing things a bit differently.

Despite this I'll be sticking to my 60's technology for fun

[jeff eelkema]

I understand the Prius exceeds the max allowable safe EMF in Australia under heavy braking but have been allowed on the road due to the "green" upside

I have no desire to own a 918 but I have to admire Porsche's use of technology in this and the hybrid GT3 racer. Once again they are pushing the envelope and doing things a bit differently.

Despite this I'll be sticking to my 60's technology for fun

[Flieger]

How do they determine "safe EMF level"? :-/

"Safe" for humans will be way higher than "safe" for cell phones and electronics. I do not even know what is supposed to happen to you with big EMFs. I did not feel a thing getting an MRI done on my head. It was just LOUD with all the motors moving the magnets and sensors.

[jeff eelkema]

Don't know how they determine safe EMF levels, I've spent 30+years working with cars so I don't really have much interest in electrical stuff.

There does appear to be significant medical evidence that kids living near high voltage power cables suffer higher levels of cancer. I guess this could just be a coincidence.

Just like mobile/cell phones and brain tumours, no clear evidence of a link but I recall the tabacco industry using the same lines in the 60's.

[Nine17]

The 918 Spyder will be on the Monterey Peninsula next week for the Pebble Beach Concours, according to a PCNA press release this morning. Watch out for the effects of that EMF on Jay Leno's pompadour...

[Flieger]

It runs!

http://www.roadandtrack.com/auto-new...yder-in-action

[lkadams]

While that's cool - much in the same way that the CGT was a halo car, but unobtainable for 99.9999% of the people, the 918 will be the same.

Now, what about that 356 or 914 update we've been hearing about? You know, a car that maybe a few more can afford?