Last year the Robb Report named the 911 Carrera S as their car of the year. Then, earlier this year they named the 918 Spyder as the “Best of the Best” when it comes to convertibles. Today, building on that momentum and citing its prowess as “a plug-in hybrid that has more in common with a Formula 1 racecar than a daily driver,” they announced that in addition to the 918 Spyder being named the “Best of the Best amongst convertibles, it has been selected as their coveted 2015 Car of the Year.
Presented at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America.
“Given Detroit’s status as a global leader in the automobile industry, we felt it was imperative this announcement be made in the city synonymous with automotive innovation, technology, and design,” said Robb Report senior vice president and group publisher David Arnold, who made the presentation.
Now in its 22nd year, the award recognizes an automobile whose technical excellence, styling, and performance captivate Robb Report’s judging panel. This year’s Car of the Year competition involved about 140 judges, and was held at Napa Valley’s Meadowood resort.
“This is the rarest, fastest, quickest, and most groundbreaking production Porsche ever,” raved Robb Report’s automotive consultant, Robert Ross. “The hybrid supercar develops nearly 900 hp from a 4.6-liter V-8 gasoline engine and two electric motors. They catapult the machine—initially in silence, until the V-8 kicks in—to speeds wholly inappropriate for public roads. But extreme performance is not the car’s only attribute. In fact, the 918 Spyder is docile at dawdling speeds, and it is as comfortable as any sports car.”
How The 918 Was Selected
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Selections resulted from extensive test-driving by a panel of experts that included Ross; Robb Report’s editor in chief, Brett Anderson; senior editor Shaun Tolson; and senior correspondent Paul Dean. These journalists were joined by about 140 members of the private Robb Report Club, which includes top executives and Robb Report readers. Competitors included:
- Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
- Audi RS 7
- Bentley Continental GT V8 S
- BMW i8
- Cadillac ELR
- Ferrari California T
- Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
- Kia K900
- Lamborghini Huracán
- Maserati Ghibli S Q4
- Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe Edition 1
- Rolls-Royce Wraith
Video’s of the testing/selection is available at RobbReport.com/coty. In addition, full results from the competition will be revealed in Robb Report’s March issue, which is scheduled to hit print and digital newsstands in late February.
Other Porsche Blog Posts You Will Enjoy
Results for the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet in Robb Report’s Car of the Year Contest!
Porsche Takes Top Honors in the World Car Awards at the NYIAS
Video: The Peaceful Tranquility Of The Porsche 918 Assembly Line
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