AUTOS: Check Out The New Electrified Porsche 914

 

Owner: Mark Brems (Photos: Matthew Phenix)

The mid-engined, targa-topped 914 is a car that sits atop the wish lists of very few Porschephiles, if any at all. The 914 pictured here, however, could change that.

Spotted in Los Angeles on 31 August: an electrified 914 sipping some juice at a public charging station. The car started life as a 1974 Porsche 914 1.8 – complete with a Volkswagen-sourced 85hp
flat-four engine. Owner Mark Brems, who purchased his prize on eBay for $1,250 and performed the $18,000 EV conversion himself, claims that the modified car, although 266lbs heavier than stock, maintains the nimble original's 46%/54% weight distribution.
On a full charge, Brems’ “P914-EV” is good for a cruising range of 70-80 miles. Top speed is a proven 96mph, though Brems notes it still has more to deliver – “But I have not found the perfect stretch of highway to test it out yet.” The interior is vintage Porsche – black and businesslike – with one very 21st-century upgrade: a touch-screen interface, complete with infotainment and vehicle diagnostics systems, running on an Android tablet.