Hybrid cars - page 12

The newly formed Bugatti-Rimac has already proved that it doesn’t lack the boldness to make some radical changes to the revered and historic French marque. The all-new Bugatti Tourbillon features a newly designed, naturally-aspirated V-16 engine that revs to 9,500 RPM and works with three electric motors to produce 1,800 metric horsepower. In July 2021, the Croatian carmaker, Rimac Automobili, acquired Bugatti. Technically, Volkswagen still partially owns Bugatti through Porsche, which has a 45-percent share in the French hypercar manufacturer. The Porsche connection might prove to be instrumental in making the first-ever, production Bugatti sedan, rumored to already be in the works. For better or worse, a Bugatti sedan is more plausible than you may think. Here’s why.

Renowned YouTuber MKBHD, a.k.a Marques Brownlee recently jumped onto the Porsche bandwagon with a stealthy satin black 992.1 911 GT3 RS. As a tech YouTuber, it doesn’t come as a surprise that he has embraced electrification and has been an advocate of the booming EV space, to the extent that he even now reviews electric and hybrid cars on his Autofocus channel.

Electrification isn’t the end of internal combustion, but in a way is its evolution. In the hypercar segment, hybrid technology is breathing new life into high-performance combustion engines, marrying raw power with performance and efficiency. A trend that really began with the Holy Trinity (La Ferrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and McLaren P1) has evolved significantly over the past decade with automakers finding better ways to integrate green tech with traditional ICE.

After long-standing speculations and teasers, the Chiron replacement is finally here! The Bugatti Tourbillon ditches the EV trend and sticks to its internal combustion heritage with a twist. Yes, it’s a plug-in hybrid and the first Bugatti under Mate Rimac’s leadership. Beneath its elegant silhouette lies a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, holding a Cosworth-developed 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 coupled with three electric motors. Combined, the hybrid powertrain cranks out 1,775 horsepower. With a 0-60 mph time of two seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 276 mph, the Tourbillon is not only more potent than the outgoing Chiron but also faster.

With Automobili Rimac taking over Bugatti in 2021, the world expected the Chiron’s successor to be a rebadged Nevera. However, the French automaker just defied expectations and has instead stuck with internal combustion. Forget, turbocharged hybrids; Bugatti has ditched the W16 and in its place has worked with Cosworth to develop an all-new, naturally-aspirated V16 engine that revs to 9,000 rpm. It produces 1,000 horsepower. Additionally, there’s a tri-motor setup with 800 horsepower and a 37-mile all-electric range. Combined, this is an analog hybrid supercar with 1,800 horsepower on tap. For the first time, we actually have a modern-Bugatti that actually sounds good. This move begs the question: with Porsche holding a fat 45% stake in the recently formed Bugatti-Rimac, could we see a similar surprise approach from the upcoming flagship Porsche, i.e. the 918’s successor?

With the introduction of the 992.2 Carrera GTS for the 2025 model year, Porsche’s iconic 911 sports car enters a new era of hybridization, or at least that’s what people are saying. But it’s technically not the first hybrid 911.

Porsche just unveiled the 911 Hybrid, and it’s a game changer. Hybrid tech is not new to the Porsche brand. Pretty much every model within the brand’s lineup with the exception of the 911 and the Cayman/Boxster pair have previously had hybrid variants. But that changes today, with the introduction of the first ever 911 hybrid. They’re calling it the Carrera GTS, and the headline feature is the revolutionary T-Hybrid system – the first of its kind for this iconic German sports car. However, unlike most hybrids that focus on efficiency, Porsche reiterates that the new 911 hybrid puts high performance and driving dynamics, front and center.

Believe it or not, but hybrids have been with us since 1899 when Ferdinand Porsche and Ludwig Lohner built the Semper Vivus. After 125 years, we have plenty of hybrid vehicles on the market today, starting from the Toyota Prius to ultra-high-performance supercars like the Ferrari SF90 and the Lamborghini Revuelto.

The iconic Porsche 911 is a sports car that has a rich history that began in 1963 with the debut of the original 901 (later renamed 911 due to a trademark dispute with Peugeot). It was a revelation, setting a new standard for performance and enthusiasm. Over the decades, the 911 continued to evolve, pushing the boundaries of what a sports car can be. The 930 Turbo, introduced in 1975, brought turbocharging to the masses, and the 964 generation, launched in 1989, modernized the 911 with all-wheel drive and a more refined design. The 993 generation, which followed in 1993, was the final air-cooled flat-six engine-powered 911.

Porsches are special, whether the rear-engined 911, the mid-engined 718, or the front-engined big and bulky Cayenne. However, neither sports car is the best seller in Porsche’s lineup. Why? Well, not everyone is a hardcore motoring enthusiast who intends to tear up the drag strip or aspires to be a GT3 driver in their new purchase, and that’s where the Cayenne wins the popularity vote.

Remember 2002? Britney Spears dominated the airwaves, flip phones were all the rage, and Porsche took a bold leap into uncharted territory - the SUV market. The Cayenne became an instant success with its sculpted curves and undeniable Porsche spirit. It proved that luxury and practicality could coexist while redefining the SUV landscape and injecting much-needed cash into the iconic German brand, securing its future for generations to come.

The Chevy Corvette’s history in the American muscle car world is significant, and the eighth-generation model is just a serious step up from what the car used to be. Debuted in 2019, the C8 Corvette transitioned to a rear-mid engine layout, reminiscent of those pesky Italians, giving Chevy the ticket to enter the supercar realm.