Review by CoMod Chris & Jörg of Carrera DIGITAL 132 23"
the Porsche 918 Spyder + "Martini Racing, " Item Nos. 30697 and 30698. In
the lineup: 2014
. Available starting: late August/early September 2014Technical
Specifications:
Weight (complete vehicle with magnets): 100
gramsWeight (body): 27
gramsLength including spoiler: 139
mmWheelbase: 85
mmTrack width (front axle): 56
mmTrack width (rear axle): 58
mmOther: The car features
a solid front axle
. Overview of color and country variants: Last year, the open-top version was already released in the “Time Race” and “Celebracers” anniversary starter packs. The individual vehicles, on the other hand, come with a closed roof—one in the black-and-red “Salzburg Racing Design” and one in the familiar Martini livery on a white background. The recently announced “Idee Spiel &” special edition will also be a 918 Spyder in Martini livery, though with a black base color.
Technical specs:
No surprises here—it features the familiar and proven G2 chassis with the E200 powertrain. And although space in the front end is limited, a continuous front axle was successfully implemented. With a total weight of exactly 100 grams, the model isn’t exactly a lightweight, but it’s still within an acceptable range. The lighting uses SMD LEDs; it’s excellent in the rear, but unfortunately, there’s clearly visible stray light in the front that shines out from the sides of the wheel wells.
Appearance:
I have mixed feelings here. The classic Martini Racing design suits the model perfectly, and the black trim pieces really stand out against the white base color. There are also a few color accents in the interior. The black-and-red model looks much more understated overall, though there aren’t many alternatives when it comes to design choices.
I’m not satisfied with the overall appearance. I come across the real cars relatively often, and they look much lower to the ground and more muscular than this model can convey.
Test Drive:
This brings us to the vehicle’s best feature. With a full set of magnets, the car grips the road extremely well. Even after removing the rear magnet, the center magnet still holds the car firmly in its lane, though it allows for a certain amount of slippage in the turns. The tendency to tip over is very minimal, so on tight courses, fast lap times are achievable, and the car’s cornering characteristics remain sufficiently forgiving overall. The test car’s smooth and relatively quiet running noise is particularly striking. The open-top 918 Spyder from last year's base pack is annoying here because of its significantly louder and more rumbling sound. I don’t know if this can be explained by the additional roof; maybe it’s just normal variation.
*****************************
6.57 minutes … a record on the Nordschleife for production vehicles. The new Porsche 918 Spyder withHybrid
hybrid powertrain features a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 795 or 887 PS (production model/race version, respectively, with internal combustion engine plus electric motor), which
is enough for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just under 3 seconds and a top speed of325–340 km/h. The base model is available for 768,000 euros… not exactly a bargain, but plenty of power for the money… though production is limited to 918 units.
Appearance:
The white Porsche in its Martini livery is, of course, highly recognizable on the track.
Fortunately, the matte-black 918 has red stripes and a white race number … so it’s not a “dark man” either.
Carrera
The creator clearly fell in love with recreating the originals … the license plates are correct,
the brake calipers are colored, the brake rotors are subtly perforated, etc. Personally, I find the driver figure a bit too clichéd, but that might just be a matter of taste. In the original photos I found online, the Martini has a white spoiler to match the Martini design and black rims with a red center cap. In the model, it has a black spoiler and silver rims… okay, some things become clear: it’s the Weissach (tuning) package in a carbon-fiber look.
Overall, the vehicles don’t strike me as being as aggressive or flounder-like as the photos of the real cars—but that might also be because of the closed roof; most 1:1 photos show it with the roof open, and the camera angles might also be misleading… I haven’t seen one in person yet.
Technical Details:
Basically all familiar components, even though the vehicle itself is new.
The headlights are white, bright enough, shine downward, and illuminate the road. The taillights are bright, and the brake light is clearly visible. The tires have grip, but the tread pattern sets its limits. The tires are quite thin, true to the prototype, so skidding should only be attempted with extreme caution. At the rear are thin, raised flaps. These are part of the chassis, so handle with care.
Workmanship:
In terms of the paint job
, , there are minor—and I mean minor—imperfections, , for example in the curved lines of the Martini livery. The thickness of the lines varies, with some being thinner and others thicker. All other components, such as decals and technical parts, are flawless and neatly assembled. The wheels and axles turn easily and run smoothly—no problems.
Handling:
Weighing just under 100 grams, the car handles okay. I find
the handling, both with and without a magnet, to be quite balanced and pleasant—lively only without a magnet or with just one. However, the tires reach their grip limits quite quickly here… perhaps adding a little weight to the chassis is the solution.
Conclusion:
The car fits into the super-sports car lineup and will find its buyers.
P.S. By the way, the race number is the number of the respective prototype.
the Porsche 918 Spyder + "Martini Racing, " Item Nos. 30697 and 30698. In
the lineup: 2014
. Available starting: late August/early September 2014Technical
Specifications:
Weight (complete vehicle with magnets): 100
gramsWeight (body): 27
gramsLength including spoiler: 139
mmWheelbase: 85
mmTrack width (front axle): 56
mmTrack width (rear axle): 58
mmOther: The car features
a solid front axle
. Overview of color and country variants: Last year, the open-top version was already released in the “Time Race” and “Celebracers” anniversary starter packs. The individual vehicles, on the other hand, come with a closed roof—one in the black-and-red “Salzburg Racing Design” and one in the familiar Martini livery on a white background. The recently announced “Idee Spiel &” special edition will also be a 918 Spyder in Martini livery, though with a black base color.
Technical specs:
No surprises here—it features the familiar and proven G2 chassis with the E200 powertrain. And although space in the front end is limited, a continuous front axle was successfully implemented. With a total weight of exactly 100 grams, the model isn’t exactly a lightweight, but it’s still within an acceptable range. The lighting uses SMD LEDs; it’s excellent in the rear, but unfortunately, there’s clearly visible stray light in the front that shines out from the sides of the wheel wells.
Appearance:
I have mixed feelings here. The classic Martini Racing design suits the model perfectly, and the black trim pieces really stand out against the white base color. There are also a few color accents in the interior. The black-and-red model looks much more understated overall, though there aren’t many alternatives when it comes to design choices.
I’m not satisfied with the overall appearance. I come across the real cars relatively often, and they look much lower to the ground and more muscular than this model can convey.
Test Drive:
This brings us to the vehicle’s best feature. With a full set of magnets, the car grips the road extremely well. Even after removing the rear magnet, the center magnet still holds the car firmly in its lane, though it allows for a certain amount of slippage in the turns. The tendency to tip over is very minimal, so on tight courses, fast lap times are achievable, and the car’s cornering characteristics remain sufficiently forgiving overall. The test car’s smooth and relatively quiet running noise is particularly striking. The open-top 918 Spyder from last year's base pack is annoying here because of its significantly louder and more rumbling sound. I don’t know if this can be explained by the additional roof; maybe it’s just normal variation.
*****************************
6.57 minutes … a record on the Nordschleife for production vehicles. The new Porsche 918 Spyder with
is enough for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just under 3 seconds and a top speed of325–340 km/h. The base model is available for 768,000 euros… not exactly a bargain, but plenty of power for the money… though production is limited to 918 units.
Appearance:
The white Porsche in its Martini livery is, of course, highly recognizable on the track.
Fortunately, the matte-black 918 has red stripes and a white race number … so it’s not a “dark man” either.
the brake calipers are colored, the brake rotors are subtly perforated, etc. Personally, I find the driver figure a bit too clichéd, but that might just be a matter of taste. In the original photos I found online, the Martini has a white spoiler to match the Martini design and black rims with a red center cap. In the model, it has a black spoiler and silver rims… okay, some things become clear: it’s the Weissach (tuning) package in a carbon-fiber look.
Overall, the vehicles don’t strike me as being as aggressive or flounder-like as the photos of the real cars—but that might also be because of the closed roof; most 1:1 photos show it with the roof open, and the camera angles might also be misleading… I haven’t seen one in person yet.
Technical Details:
Basically all familiar components, even though the vehicle itself is new.
The headlights are white, bright enough, shine downward, and illuminate the road. The taillights are bright, and the brake light is clearly visible. The tires have grip, but the tread pattern sets its limits. The tires are quite thin, true to the prototype, so skidding should only be attempted with extreme caution. At the rear are thin, raised flaps. These are part of the chassis, so handle with care.
Workmanship:
In terms of the paint job
, , there are minor—and I mean minor—imperfections, , for example in the curved lines of the Martini livery. The thickness of the lines varies, with some being thinner and others thicker. All other components, such as decals and technical parts, are flawless and neatly assembled. The wheels and axles turn easily and run smoothly—no problems.
Handling:
Weighing just under 100 grams, the car handles okay. I find
the handling, both with and without a magnet, to be quite balanced and pleasant—lively only without a magnet or with just one. However, the tires reach their grip limits quite quickly here… perhaps adding a little weight to the chassis is the solution.
Conclusion:
The car fits into the super-sports car lineup and will find its buyers.
P.S. By the way, the race number is the number of the respective prototype.
