SPY PICS: Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsche’s 918 Spyder is still two years away from going on sale, but a pre-production car sporting the iconic Martini racing team colours has already been spied pounding around the Nürburgring by the Carparazzi lenses.

A spiritual successor of sorts to the V10-powered Carrera GT, the 918 Spyder is shaping up as a cutting-edge supercar that adopts lightweight carbonfibre construction and a clean-burning yet potent hybrid powertrain.

This is what we know so far...

With a kerb weight of less than 1700kg, it’s claimed the hybrid powertrain rockets the 918 Spyder from 0-100km/h in less than 3sec, 0-200km/h in under 9sec and a top speed of 325km/h. Even in electric mode it can top out at 150km/h while tests show it has lapped the daunting Nürburgring Nordschleife in an impressive 7 minutes 22 seconds.

The Spyder’s 4.6-litre V8 engine is supplemented by two electric motors; the first electric unit delivers 80kW and sends its power to the front wheels, while the second one, which produces 90kW, is included in the gearbox assembly (a seven-speed PDK unit) and drives the rear axle. The system allows the driver to play with an overall output of over 575kW.

However, it’s the claimed economy figure of 3L/100km that’s the 918 Spyder’s real trump card, along with an ability to cover 25km purely on electric power as long as the battery is fully charged.

Porsche has maximised versatility by defining five operating modes comprising E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid and Hot Lap, which are activated via a ‘map switch’ on the steering wheel.

The electric motors and combustion engine work together in Hybrid mode with an emphasis on maximum efficiency and minimum fuel consumption, so it would ostensibly be used for trundling around in inner-city traffic.

Sport Hybrid mode puts the combustion engine in constant operation, while the electric motors provide support in the form of an electric boost when the driver demands higher output or for greater efficiency.

As the name suggests, Race Hybrid is designed for highest possible performance, so the combustion engine is used under high load and charges the battery when the driver is not tapping the maximum output. The electric motors provide additional support as needed in the form of a boost when the driver requires even more power – a ‘push-to-pass’ feature of sorts.

The Hot Lap mode releases the 918 Spyder’s last reserves and can only be activated in Race Hybrid mode. Similar to a qualification mode, it pushes the traction battery to its maximum power output limits for a few max-attack laps.

It all sounds great, but what will only be known when we get our first wheel time is whether the 918 Spyder has the charisma to match its undoubted efficiency.

— with Carparazzi

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