Porsche unveils 918 Spyder 11 | 09 | 2013
PORSCHE HAS LIFTED the wraps from the full production version of its 214mph petrol-electric hybrid two-seater 918 Spyder. Delivering a combined 875bhp, it's the most powerful Porsche road car to date. It's also the fastest Porsche road car built.
Built in left-hand drive only, Porsche will restrict the build numbers to no more than 918 examples over the next 18 months as it goes head-to-head with rivals from McLaren and Ferrari.
With a price tag of £657,400, Porsche has admitted that orders for the new hypercar are already ahead of expectations. It's believed orders have been taken for more than two-thirds of the planned production.
Sitting on a bespoke chassis fashioned from aluminium, magnesium and titanium, the 918 Spyder is based around a carbonfibre monocoque, and is encased in composite plastic body panels.
As a result, despite the bulk and weight of its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and battery pack, the car has a kerb weight of 1634kg.
Capable of being used either as a coupe or a roadster — the 918 Spyder's removable roof panels can easily be stowed away in the nose section — it's powered by a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain.
Related: BMW reveals i8 in full
The impressive powerplant is based around a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine which delivers 599bhp at 8700rpm. This, in turn, is supported by two electric motors, one sited in the front within the front axle and another at the rear, developing a combined 282bhp at 6500rpm.
The combined total output of 875bhp is then channelled through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Power is delivered either to the front wheels under electric propulsion only, or all four wheels with a combination of petrol and electric power.
A 6.8kWh lithium ion battery mounted low down at the rear of the monocoque supplies the energy for the electric motors. The battery pack, guaranteed for four years, is charged both through plug-in and electrical energy stored under braking.
A Porsche-developed electronic management system —offering five different driving modes: E-power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid and Hot Lap — controls the three power sources.
The 918 Spyder is capable of covering 19.9 miles in electric-only E-power mode, which delivers power to the front wheels and zero emissions.
Flicked into Race Hybrid mode, the character of the 918 Spyder changes dramatically, accelerating from standstill to 62mph in 2.8secs. The impressive figures continue: 200km/h (124mph) comes up in 7.7sec, with the 300km/h (186mph) barred being passed in 22.0sec. Top speed is 214mph.
Related: Audi unveils diesel sportscar concept
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill