The Porsche 918 Spyder Concept combines race car performance with the fuel efficiency of a minicar.
Who says you can’t be green…and mean? Not Porsche, which is debuting an assortment of high-performance hybrids at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. That includes the new 918 Spyder concept, which combines race car-like acceleration, a top-speed of 198 mph, and the fuel efficiency of a micro-car.
Taking its bows alongside the GT3 R Hybrid race car and the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept is a mid-engine sports car using plug-in hybrid technology. The high-revving V8 side of the package develops a full 500 horsepower at 9,200 RPM. But that’s paired with a pair of electric motors on the front and rear axle that can themselves turn out another 218 hp.
The gasoline engine and rear motor drive the back axle through Porsche’s 7-speed PDK, an electrically-shifted manual gearbox. The front motor drives the forward axle through a single-speed transmission.
The 918 Spyder Concept features a large lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged, overnight, on the electric grid.
A tap of a button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose from any of four driving modes, including E-Drive, where the Porsche 918 Spyder concept can run for up to 16 miles on battery power alone. Sport Hybrid mode uses both gas and electric power, but emphasizes performance. Race Hybrid is a track-oriented mode that pushes the gas-electric drivetrain to its limits.
In track mode, the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept will launch from 0-100 kmh (0 – 62.5 mph) in just 3.2 seconds. The maker claims the car can turn a 7:30 minute lap of the Nodschleife of the Nurburgring, faster than the Porsche Carrera GT. Yet, the plug-in hybrid supercar is rated at about 78 mpg, and puts out well under 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer, well under most minicars. Top speed is rated at 198 mph.
To further improve performance – and fuel economy, Porsche adopts a lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced bodyshell for the 918 Spyder concept, along with magnesium and aluminum components, bringing total weight to just 3,285 pounds.