The carbon-fibre body encases a hybrid 4.6-litre V8 engine coupled to two electric motors. These are powered by a 6.8kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack.
‘Why?’ I hear you demand! Well, the Porsche 918 Spyder boasts top-mounted exhaust pipes that are reminiscent of the original 1966 Batmobile’s flare launchers. Most car enthusiasts would find this alone exciting enough. The 918 Spyder, however, is the most complicated and intricate vehicle ever designed by Porsche.
The carbon-fibre body encases a hybrid 4.6-litre V8 engine coupled to two electric motors. These are powered by a 6.8kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. The new supercar starts up like a computer, and is a ground-breaking feat of engineering – shouting out to the world that hybrid supercars are not only possible, they are the way of the future.
The original concept car was unveiled back in 2010 at the Geneva Motor Show and while there have been changes to the exhaust, for instance, the styling remains as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as the concept shown in Switzerland. Additions to the design include the vents on the front quarter panels and magnesium wheels as an optional extra.
When the 918 Spyder prototype was sent rocketing around the Nürburgring it did so in an impressive 7 minutes and 14 seconds, making it the fastest hybrid around the track. Even conventional, fuel-guzzling supercars like the Ferarri Enzo and Nissan’s GT-R are outgunned by the mid-engined 918 Spyder. This is no surprise when one considers that the Spyder’s V8 is capable of delivering 580 bhp alone, with the electric motors adding another 215 horses. Torque peaks at 780Nm between 1000 and 4000 rpm. The Spyder’ redline is at 9000rpm and the top speed is somewhere around 325 km/h.
Transmission on the Spyder is a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch box that allows the driver to run the engine with electricity, fuel or both. Units on both axles also enable all-wheel drive with the Spyder. Keeping emissions down and allowing the vehicle and driver to utilize every driving situation as best as possible is the ‘sailing’ fuel economy mode as well as an auto stop/start system.
The 918 Spyder rests on 20-inch alloys at the front and 21-inch alloys at the rear, with 265/35 and 325/30 wheels respectively. The Spyder’s power is brought to a halt by carbon-ceramic brake discs.
The Porsche 918 Spyder is also available with an optional Weissach package that utilizes carbon-fibre, titanium and ceramic components to reduce the car’s weight by 35kgs, as well as the magnesium wheels. This package also strips out every last bit of unnecessary weight and luxury to create a Spartan environment that even has cloth straps in place of the door handles. As with most supercars, each optional extra carries a rather hefty price tag, with the magnesium wheels alone costing over R300 000.
The digital interface on the interior of the 918 Spyder allows the driver to set the operating mode of the Porsche to either E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid or Hot Lap.
Porsche intends to start assembly on the 918 Spyder on September 18, 2013 (or 9-18 – get it?) to start deliveries that December. Porsche intends to produce only 918 of the cars, and once they are available the 918 Spyder will be one of the fastest street-legal cars in the world. And at a price tag of around R9-million, don’t expect to see too many of these bad boys parked outside your local Woolies.
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Image sourced from carmag.