Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Geneva Update: Porsche Reveals Hybrid 918 Spyder

Plug-in super sports car claims 78mpg

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Porsche has unveiled an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car featuring hybrid and electric drive technology.

The 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities, the company says - including an emission level of just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and 78 mpg.

In case you think that all sounds a bit ominous, the performance is 'fascinating' too. How does which a standstill to 62mph time of just under 3.2 seconds grab you? Porsche also claims a top speed of 198 mph, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of less than 7:30 minutes, faster than the Porsche Carrera GT.

The open two-seater's impressive numbers come from a high-revving V8 developing more than 500bhp at a maximum engine speed of 9,200rpm, as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with an overall mechanical output of 218bhp.

The V8 is said to be the next step in the evolution of the 3.4- liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and, positioned in front of the rear axle, gives the car excellent balance for track performance.

Power is transmitted by a seven-speed PDK transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio.

The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network, says Porsche.

 

 

[JMo22]

Wowoweeewahhh..have Porsche ended their styling rut?

[fivesixseven8]

Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.

Shirley a 911 level price tag (at least) though?

[S1MMA]

Change the wheels, but otherwise that looks fantastic. Especially like the interior!

[456mgt]

If they make it I will have one

[magnus911]

Side-exhausts are under-used in the car industry...

[Thrapperthorpe]

fivesixseven8 said:

Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.

Shirley a 911 level price tag (at least) though?

Don't call me Shirley...

Edited by Thrapperthorpe on Tuesday 2nd March 07:45

[FrankS.]

magnus911 said:

Side-exhausts are under-used in the car industry...

True

[chuntington101]

i thought Porsche was going to use a flywheel to store the energy? thats what was in EVO this month......

Just needs a couple of turbos strapped to that V8 now

[chuntington101]

magnus911 said:

Side-exhausts are under-used in the car industry...

Totally with you on that! they look really good on this one!

[Wilburo]

So, is this the Porsche version of the VW Bluesport, or a new Carrera GT?

[5lab]

how is the v8 a continuation of the flat6 in the spider?

[fivesixseven8]

Wilburo said:

So, is this the Porsche version of the VW Bluesport, or a new Carrera GT?

I'd understood it to be the bluemotion based car coming in under the Boxster? Sounds more like a CGT replacement though.

[MiniMan64]

Holy. Crap.

Thats a looker and a half isn't it?

[Wilburo]

Autocar are saying it's the succesor to the CGT.

[r129sl]

5lab said:

how is the v8 a continuation of the flat6 in the spider? (sic)

Because the RS Spyder doesn't have a flat 6. It has a 3.4litre V8.

[kambites]

Looks quite promising from those pictures, although I'm distinctly dubious about the fuel consumption claims.

The front end somehow reminds me of the Farboud, which isn't a particularly bad thing, I suppose. I'm not convinced by the plastic wheels, though.

[McAndy]

Wowza! So, are they going to produce it? Breaking their styling rut and excellent eco stats combined with performance. If they produce the Cayenne/Panamera but not this I shall be very, very disappointed!! The first car from Porsche I've been genuinely excited about in a while!

Note: Before I get slated for not being excited about the GT3 RS etc, I am, but I already know what those cars are about and that they'll be good. This is new and exciting!

[magnus911]

fivesixseven8 said:

Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.

Shirley a 911 level price tag (at least) though?

Probably a price tag equivalent to 4 x 911 Turbos...

Edited by magnus911 on Tuesday 2nd March 08:17

[Stu R]

My word that's pretty.

I'll take a guess it's a far more extreme version of what lies ahead, with their styling remaining more progessive and subtle than 'all change'. Still, even if it only has a few of the styling cues from this and the rest remains usual Porsche fayre it'll be handsome imo.

[appletonn]

So is it 500hp PLUS the 218 from the electric motors?

As for the fuel consumption and emissions, I would doubt that you could have your cake and eat it - 500hp OR low emissions and fuel consumption, not simultaneously!!

Happy to be proved wrong though - lovely looking car and good to see some original thinking from Porsche at long last.

Now they just need to marry the electric motors with a proper aircooled flat six and we'd have motoring nirvana....

Edited by appletonn on Tuesday 2nd March 08:35