Porsche’s plug-in hybrid 918 Spyder is more than half-way through its development now — time to talk it up! Porsche says the car will produce more the 770 hp while consuming a paltry 3L/100km of fuel.
Offering a glimpse of the future Porsche Intelligent Performance, the 918 features a full carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body that keeps weight down to less than 1,700 kg, fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive real-axle steering, and upward-venting “top pipes” exhaust system.
Described as “the legitimate successor to the Carrera GT,” the 918 is slated to be significantly faster, with a 0-100 km/h time of less than three seconds (compared to the GT’s 3.9) and a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:22, compared to the GT’s 7:32. A little something the GT couldn’t boast — an all-electric range of 25 km.
The Porsche 918 Spyder pairs a 570-hp V8 gas-powered engine with a pair of electric modules. Power is managed through five pre-selectable modes: “E-Power,” to which the system defaults if the battery is sufficiently charged, and in which the ICE kicks in only when needed; “Hybrid,” in which the ICE and electric motors work together; “Sport Hybrid,” in which the ICE is in constant operation to provide the main propulsive force; “Race Hybrid,” in which the electric motors provide an extra boost when called upon; and “Hot Lap,” which can be released in Race Hybrid mode and uses all available battery energy.
