Car of the Day - Porsche 918 Spyder

Car of the Day - Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsche surprised attendees at the 2010 Geneva Motorshow with the stunning 918 Spyder. A truly beautiful SuperCar concept that manages to deliver on performance and efficiency. The plug-in hybrid is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive that debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Porsche also brought the new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive and the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery, (already covered as a COTD).

The 918 is powered by a 9,200 rpm redlined 3.4 litre V8 delivering more than 500 horsepower - plus an electric motor on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower (160 kW) giving a total of 718 bhp or 535 kw Enough to propel the performance focused hybrid to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and then continue on to a top speed of 198 mph. With a not so vigorous driving style it can also deliver 78 miles per gallon and emit just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that also feeds the power of the rear electric drive system to the rear axle. The front axle electric motor powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio. There are four driver controlled configuration options for the powertrain, these range from maximum efficiency to maximum performance. The E-Drive mode supplies pure electric power and gives a range of 16 miles. The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell that can be charged from a domestic power grid. Additionally there is a kinetic energy recovery system coupled to the brakes, providing further energy for acceleration.

The 918 looks to me like a modernised Carrera GT with hints of 458 Italia, a very successful design The body uses a modular structure with a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) monocoque bodyshell and magnesium and aluminum sub-structures. Weight comes in at 1,490 kg, or 3,285 lb,

As is the case with many concept show cars the interior points at future directions for the next series of production models and as can be seen from the included images - this is also simply stunning.

Rod Halligan