Centurion United Kingdom Autumn 2014

ART & DESIGN ON THE ROAD

ART & DESIGN ON THE ROAD PORSCHE 918 SPYDER FERRARI LAFERRARI ACURA NSX the LaFerrari harnesses the extra electric punch simply to boost its V12 petrol engine to 963 horsepower – there’s no tree hugging going on at Maranello. And all three, when you plant your foot on the accelerator, move as though the hand of God is pushing you along. Incredibly complex, they are not just playthings for collectors and speculators, but test beds for new technologies that will, one day, make their way into more humble offerings. Porsche’s 918 Spyder, for instance, is a veritable science laboratory on wheels and could well be a decade ahead of its time – a trick Porsche pulled off in the mid-1980s with the epic 959. Carbon-fibre construction plays an important role with these three as well. Lighter yet stronger than steel, it’s incredibly protective and, when cars are as brutally fast as these, that has to be a plus point. Which brings us to the other two zeitgeist definers – the new i8 and NSX, which are not to be outshone. Eventually they will become more commonplace than the mad three, but in their own ways they’re equally spectacular. The i8 looks like something from Buck Rogers, with cool blue lighting oozing from practically every crease and doors that open upwards. It’s formed from carbon composites and combines battery power with a small, three-cylinder engine that sounds like it’s twice the size when it cuts in. It’s tremendously quick and turns heads like nothing else on Earth, all the while delivering fuel economy that defies belief. Drive one and you’ll be convinced: this is the future. When the NSX comes along next summer things could change again. The concept has been doing the rounds at motor shows for a couple of years and it’s truly gorgeous. With a twin-turbo V6 mounted amidships, no fewer than three electric motors and a kerb weight of just 1,400kg thanks to its carbon construction, it could signal a new dawn for the Japanese company. Certainly the advent of what was once an oxymoron – the hybrid supercar – has saved highperformance motoring from a feared and undignified demise. It’s nothing short of a revolution. Wonders on wheels, from top: LaFerrari demonstrating its dramatic wing doors, ferrari.com; Porsche’s 918 Spyder features advances in technology that seem well ahead of their time, porsche. com; the Acura NSX, which will be rolled out next summer, acura.com PHOTOS FROM TOP: © FERRARI, © PORSCHE, © ACURA 70 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM Behind the wheel of the BMW i8, visit WWW.CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM

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