Few cars in Porsche’s history have disrupted the status quo like the 918 Spyder did upon its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Its revolutionary plug-in hybrid powertrain—with electric motors powering the front axle and a conventional V-8 driving the rear—was a huge leap forward, not only in efficiency, but also in its ability to enthrall drivers.

There is nothing quite like leisurely and silently pulling away in full-electric mode, only to hear the race-bred V-8, with its flat-plane crankshaft, titanium connecting rods, and dry-sump lubrication, bark to life, bellowing under full acceleration to a 9,000-rpm redline.

The wonderfully raucous sound conjures images of piloting the Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 Le Mans prototype, whose very engine served as the basis for the 918 Spyder’s.

The entire experience is both utterly incongruous and supernaturally seamless, creating an astounding new paradigm for high-performance motoring.

Self-adjusting aerodynamic aids—includin...