This is the fastest and most powerful road-going Porsche model yet—the ultra complex and breathtakingly expensive 918 Spyder.
Carrying on a celebrated line of racetrack-inspired limited-production specials, the 918 Spyder was first revealed as a concept at the 2010 Geneva motor show prior to receiving an official production greenlight later that year.
Since then the targa-roofed Porsche has undergone an intensive three-year development program culminating in a final validation test at the Nürburgring in early September. There factory driver Marc Lieb established an official 6-minute, 57-second lap time, undercutting the Carrera GT by a stout 33 seconds. Up to now the GT was the fastest road-going Porsche model to ever lap the iconic German race circuit.
Power for the new carbon-fiber Porsche is a mid-mounted 4.6-liter V8 gasoline engine based on the engine from the earlier RS Spyder race car. Two synchronous electric motors -- one mounted up front and another at the rear -- supplement the V8. Together, the three power sources produce 875 hp at 8,500 rpm and a thumping 944 lb-ft of torque. (Some perspective: The Carrera GT's 5.7-liter V10 gasoline engine, designed for a Le Mans challenger, kicks out 603 hp and less than half the 918 Spyder's torque, at 434 lb-ft.)
Power is delivered via both a fixed gear and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox; the former operates on the front axle to provide electric drive to the front wheels at speeds up to 165 mph, while the latter sits at the rear and drives the rear wheels with a combination of electric and gasoline-engine power. Depending on the drive mode selected, the new Porsche can operate in front-, rear- or four-wheel drive modes.
A 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery mounted underneath the gasoline engine in back provides the energy used to run the electric motors. The battery comes with a seven-year guarantee and adds a significant 692 lbs to the 918 Spyder's 3,691-lb overall curb weight.
Nevertheless the official performance claims are spectacular. When fitted with an optional Weissach performance package (lightweight components paring some 88 lbs from the curb weight), the Spyder hits 62 mph in 2.6 seconds, 124 mph in 7.2 seconds and 186 mph in 19.9 seconds.
With a sophisticated aerodynamic package including a rear wing extending from the rear body work nearly 5 inches and providing three different downforce levels, the Spyder reaches a 214-mph top speed. In electric mode it hits 93 mph before the gasoline engine fires.
The truly remarkable thing about the new Porsche is while it delivers sledgehammer performance, its state-of-the-art gasoline-electric hybrid driveline allows it to record outstanding economy figures when driven at a leisurely pace. Porsche is quick to highlight the official 78.4 mpg consumption. However, it is achieved almost entirely in electric mode using a loophole in the European test procedure. In real-world conditions, you should expect figures similar to those of more conventional combustion-engine powered sports cars.
