A new idea, a new spark of inspiration, this is Porsche’s dedication to the sports car of the 21st century. The Porsche 918 Spyder concept. Porsche’s first plug-in hybrid with electric motors delivering over two hundred horsepower and a high-rpm V8 engine delivering an additional five hundred horsepower. In addition, the Porsche 918 Spyder takes new paths with electric all-wheel drive and torque vectoring. Then there is the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) and the electric boost function. All vehicle components are integrated into a performance-focused automotive architecture with a carbon fiber monocoque.
The 918 Spyder weighs less than 1500 kg. With a very low power-to-weight ratio, this car is a true high-performance hybrid. With a 0-60 time of just three seconds and a top speed of two hundred miles per hour, this model is expected to be faster on the Nordschleife than the company’s current heavy hitter – the Carrera GT. Equally, breaking records are the cars’ green credentials: with a moderate driving style, the Spyder can achieve a fuel consumption of three liters per sixty miles and CO2 emissions of about seventy grams per kilometer. Beyond that, this car can only be driven on electric power, providing a range of up to about twenty miles – Porsche’s answer to the hybrid problem.
The Porsche 918 Spyder has been developed from the genes of the legendary Porsche 917. The result: an extremely flat sports car with the distinctive proportions of a race car. Porsche DNA so to speak. In the cockpit, the Spyder follows in the footsteps of the Carrera GT, with a rising center console and separate dials. The operating concept points the way to the future: central control functions are located on the multifunction sports steering wheel and a touch panel in the center console.
The 918 is destined to change the way we drive sports cars. It is one of Porsche’s responses to today’s environmental problems. Yes, Porsche responds with more power, but also with lower fuel consumption. A contradiction? Not at all, it is the principle that the company has called Porsche Smart Performance. A principle that the company also applies to the new 911 GT3R hybrid. A front axle hybrid with a flywheel energy accumulator for increased performance on the race track. It follows the tradition of years of racing success, but still finds new directions in which to advance. With these pioneering technological advances towards a greener sports car, Porsche is proving that it remains at the forefront of performance engineering.
