This is the Porsche concept car that they’ve managed to keep under the wraps so far while other Geneva debuts like the new Cayenne were prematurely leaked. It will debut alongside the Cayenne and the 911 GT3 R Hybrid on Porsche’s Geneva stands.
The 918 Spyder reminds us of the Carrera GT and thanks to its hybrid powertrain, it can hit 100km/h in under 3.2 seconds. It can also do the Nurburgring in less than 7 minutes and 30 seconds, which Porsche says is faster than the original Carrera GT! Even with these impressive figures, Porsche claims an average fuel consumption of just 3 litres per 100km though you’ll use far far more than this when you are really gunning it as hard driving isn’t factored into ‘combined fuel consumption’ driving behavior.
The car is built on a modular monocoque bodyshell made of carbon reinforced plastic as well as magnesium and aluminum. Thanks to that, curb weight is only 1,490kg, despite having to carry the entire hybrid system. That’s a lot of stuff there – the combustion engine which will no doubt be large and powerful since this is a performance car, and then we also have the batteries and the multiple electric motors.
The hybrid powertrain in question combines a 9,200rpm redline high revving V8 producing about 500 PS together with electric motors on both the front and rear axle. The motors produce a combined output of 218 PS. Peak combined output from all the power sources is 718 PS. Rear wheels are driven by the V8 and an electric motor through a 7-speed Porsche PDK dual clutch transmission, while the front axle’s electric motors drive the wheels via a fixed transmission ratio. These motors get their power from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery mounted behind the passenger cell, which seats two by the way.
The car can work in four different modes. In Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine but shuts either off depending on conditions, just like a regular series-parallel hybrid like the Prius. The Sport Hybrid mode turns on both electric and V8 power all the time, with most of the drive power going to the rear wheels. There is also torque vectoring so power is distributed well between the left and right wheels. In Race Hybrid mode, both power sources also work together, but there is also a “push to pass” button that feeds in extra power for overtaking. Finally, the E-Drive mode allows the car to move on electric power only up to 25km.
Look after the jump for three initial hi-res photos they’ve released.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
This is what we call improvement!! superbbb!!
Thanks Porsche for giving me a reason to save money. I already missed out on the Carrera GT… hopefully i'll make it to this.
At first glance, I thought it was a Ferrari . . .
Hmm, agreed with fuego66!
I wonder how true is the claim… 3 Lt per 100KM?
porsche with a ferrari's design?
Fuego66 said,
March 2, 2010 @ 11:53 am
At first glance, I thought it was a Ferrari . . .
Porsche breaking the traditional frog rules?
yeah, tot ferrari oso..
If only..
wow, i thought it was a Ferrari, lolol~
more precisely… the Ferrari Scuderia F430
0~100km in 3.2 seconds and fuel consumption just 33.3km/l ?
superb super superb!!!
i think this figure is about same as bmw dynamic efficient concept car.
rite.?
918?
Next Boxster i'd say more than Carrera GT. Of course, with a more down to earth drivetrain.
Will it use Variocam similar to CPS?
Amazing! Looks like a modern interpretation of Porsche's classic 907 and 917 sportscars. Hybrid technology makes it even more desirable
just looks like a Ferrari 458 Italia …. too similiar
this doesn't looks like a porsche!!it's more of a 458 italia + evora!!yeah,it's nice and aggressive..but somehow it lacks the appeal of a porsche…….
I don't think Porsche like to chip-in any Ferrari design in this super-garang. Look at the front, there's still Porsche's identity.
I think porsche hire a new designer…..good
front looks like 458italia….
panamera again? sick with it… cayenne too
sex on wheels! love it!
superb design man…i see lots of old porsche classic hints…the interior is spot on…
what a car man…
i love the carrera GT but this one is bombshell…
can’t wait to see mokhzani mahathir driving around in one.