Porsche's groundbreaking hybrid supercar, the new 918, is here, although perhaps calling a car, which Porsche has been promoting and talking about for three years now, 'new', is something of a stretch. Nonetheless, this is the first official sight of the full, ready-to-buy 918, complete with its 880hp power output.
Exterior
It looks almost exactly as it did when Porsche first showed off a concept version at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. It's low, sleek and clearly has been the inspiration from which the new Boxster and Cayman have drawn for their styling. It's also a touch plain, perhaps, compared to its direct rivals, the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari, but then that is the Porsche way and we wouldn't ask it to change it. And yes, you can optionally have it in full Martini Racing colours for the real Le Mans refugee effect.
Interior
The cabin follows precisely the current Porsche rubric, with three interconnected dials ahead of the driver and a long, sloping centre console festooned with buttons. But this time around the centre console looks more like an ultra-high-end mobile phone than ever before (think more Vertu, less iPhone) and it's a true black-panel, with multi-touch controls and a touch-screen. Don't go thinking that Porsche is falling into the trap of a too-high-tech cockpit though - the primary driving controls are simpler and grouped around the multi-function steering wheel.
Mechanicals
This is where the 918 really starts to amaze. It's a plug-in hybrid, so Porsche is claiming some astonishing emissions and fuel economy figures. Whatever you actually will be able to manage in the real world, the official figures will be between 94- and 85mpg. That would be remarkable for any Porsche, but for one that can sprint to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds? That's little short of astonishing, and even if it can only manage half those fuel figures in real world driving, then the 918 will still prove to be utterly revolutionary.
It's not all about saving fuel of course. Following on from its experience with the 911 Hybrid GT3 race car, Porsche is using the hybrid drivetrain to enhance the 918's dynamic performance. There's an electric motor powering the front axle as well as the rear, giving it four-wheel drive without having to add extra driveshafts and differentials. To juggle the three motors best for how you want to drive, the 918 comes with three electronic settings: E-Power (electric only running, for up to 32 kilometres at speeds of up to 150km/h), Hybrid (all motors, maximising fuel economy), Sport Hybrid (V8 engine now always on, but electric motors assisting for still pretty good efficiency), Race Hybrid (full petrol grunt, electric motors to maximum for KERS-style power boost and four-wheel drive traction) and finally 'Hot Lap', which just does the full Spinal Tap - everything-up-to-eleven.
There's so much more to discuss than space here permits, but while the 918 probably won't be an outright star of this Frankfurt show (we've seen it too many times already in pre-production formats) it is without question the most significant new Porsche since the 959 of the eighties, possibly even since the 1963 original 911.
Anything else?
Yes. Just in case an 880hp, part-electric, low-emissions, carbon-fibre, V8 supercar wasn't enough, Porsche is reportedly planning to offer one you can fit your kids into. According to reports in the UK press, including Autocar, Weissach has plans for a coupé version of the 918, stretched a little to allow for 2+2 seating. Ultimate school run anyone?