The BMW i8 and Acura NSX Give the Future of the Sports Car Hope
It wasn't that long ago that the idea of a hybrid supercar sounded completely absurd. Hybrid powertrains were for boring cars like the Toyota Prius, not exciting cars for people who care about driving. But in a world where both Ferrari and Porsche have sold hybrid hypercars, suddenly the idea of other performance cars using hybrid powertrai ns sounds a little less ridiculous.
One of the first hybrid supercars to hit the streets was the BMW i8. Looking like a concept car from the future, the i8 uses two electric motors and a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine to make 357 horsepower. That's significantly less than you get from a Ford Mustang GT, but thanks to its carbon fiber construction and all-wheel-drive system, the i8 is able to scoot to 60 mph in four seconds flat.
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But now the i8 faces stiff competition from the all-new Acura NSX. The NSX is more expensive, but it also packs more power. Three electric motors and a twin-turbo V6 work together to make 573 horsepower and launch the NSX to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. That's nearly 200 more horsepower and a 0-60 time that's almost 25 percent quicker.
Considering we just named the new NSX our 2017 Performance Car of the Year, it's obvious where our loyalties lie, but it's still fascinating watching Carfection drive the two back to back. And if the performance car of the future drives like either of these cars, we definitely don't have to worry about getting bored any time soon.
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