Porsche is a German automaker that produces the Porsche 918 Spyder, a mid-engine plug-in hybrid hypercar in limited numbers. A 4.6 L (4,593 cc) naturally aspirated V8 engine powers the 918 Spyder, producing 447 kW (608 PS; 599 horsepower) at 8,700 RPM. Two electric motors contribute an extra 210 kW (286 PS; 282 hp), bringing the total output to 652 kW (875 hp) and 1,280 Nm (944 lbft) of torque. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s five-cycle tests, the 6.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack in the 918 Spyder provides an all-electric range of 19 km (12 mi).
The first batch of deliveries were supposed to commence on December 1, 2013, with a starting price of EUR781,000 (US$845,000 or GBPS711,000). Production started on September 18, 2013. In December 2014, all 918 Spyder models were sold out, and production ceased in June 2015.
At the 80th Geneva Motor Show in March 2010, the 918 Spyder made its debut as a concept car. Following 2,000 interest statements, the Porsche AG Supervisory Board authorized series development of the 918 Spyder on July 28, 2010. The Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013 saw the introduction of the production model. At the 2011 North American International Auto Show, Porsche also debuted the RSR racing version of the 918, which blends hybrid technology originally utilized in the 997 GT3 R Hybrid with 918 Spyder appearance. The 918 RSR, however, was never put into production. After the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid, the 918 Spyder was Porsche’s second plug-in hybrid vehicle.
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Highlights of the Porsche 918 Spyder
The Porsche 918 Spyder, which went on to be followed by the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, attracted the attention of enthusiasts all around the world for its three model years of production between 2013 and 2015. Although the 918’s hybrid drivetrain, face-ripping acceleration, and surprising around-town tractability didn’t quite rewrite the performance rulebook like the McLaren F1 did in the early 1990s or the Bugatti Veyron did in the 2000s and 2010s, they did make the 918 an immediate superstar.
Here was a vehicle that could cover a quarter-mile in under 10 seconds while still being as simple to maneuver around town as the modern 911 Turbo. Delicious to look at, divine to hear, and, if you were one of the fortunate 918 to order yours brand-new, quite profitable if you sold it as soon as it came off the production line.
The 918 Spyder now stands as a nearly faultless first step toward hybridized super-performance, demonstrating electric motors aren’t just for saving the world. More hybrid hypercars are on the horizon, and Porsche has revealed it is working on an all-electric supercar.
The last Porsche 918 Spyder has been produced, therefore you missed out.
You lose if you sleep. The last Porsche 918 Spyder has been constructed; it is shown above receiving a final inspection. The company reports that all 918 units of the intended production run have been sold, with around 300 going to customers in the United States. Here are 15 things we learnt when we toured the production facility last fall, and you can see the assembling process here.
The 918 made its debut as a concept car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and received approval later that year. On September 18 (9/18), 2013, Porsche’s hybrid supercar went into production. In contrast to hypercars like the McLaren P1 and the LaFerrari at the time, the gigantic Porsche was not a sellout. According to reports, Porsche customers were wary of the 918’s hybrid powertrain and $1 million price tag ($847,975 before extras in the U.S.).
But it’s clear that the automobile overcame those early reservations, perhaps as a result of its mind-bending performance. Porsche boasts that the 918’s 6:57 lap time at the Nurburgring (on street tires) is still the best among production cars. A 918 with the Weissach package, which reduced curb weight by around 100 pounds but raised the price by 10%, was used to do that.
For our part, we discovered the 918 to be the fastest vehicle we’ve ever tested, reaching 60 mph in just 2.2 seconds, even surpassing a Bugatti Veyron. Additionally, it ran the quarter-mile in 9.8 seconds and recorded a 0-to-100 mph pace of 4.9 seconds. After our first drive, we remarked, “Every time you floor it, you get a preview of your first (or next) facelift.” “The draw is constant.”
The vehicle’s combined power of two electric motors and a 605-hp 4.6-liter flat-crank V-8 (revving at 9150 rpm) is 887 hp and 944 lb-ft. That was a significant improvement over the previous Porsche supercar, the 2004–2006 Carrera GT, which had a mid-mounted, normally aspirated V-10 and produced 605 horsepower. The 444-hp 959 from the late 1980s, the first Porsche supercar, was a little step behind the Carrera GT.
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Porsche 918 Spyder Information Center
Gearheads no longer need to be concerned about hybrid technology becoming a larger part of our cars thanks to the Porsche 918 Spyder, a mid-engined plug-in hybrid hypercar. The Porsche 918 Spyder’s 4.6-liter normally aspirated V8 engine, which could generate 608 horsepower on its own, was coupled with two electric motors to produce an additional 279 horsepower each, for a total of 887 horsepower. Beginning on September 18, 2013, the Porsche 918 was produced until June 2015. (all VINs were 2015 model year cars). Each car started at $845,000 (U.S.) and was rapidly sold out (by December, 2014). The vehicle was a real beast. The Porsche 918 completed a series of independent speed tests conducted by Car and Driver Magazine with times of just 2.6 seconds for 0–62 mph, 4.9 seconds for 0–100 mph, and 17.5 seconds for 0–180 mph. It has one of the planet’s fastest acceleration rates, and it also has one of the fastest top speeds. The complex technologies had been perfectly calibrated by Porsche, allowing the car to be pushed to its limits while still feeling like a classic Porsche sports car. More significantly, it was an incredible car to drive.
A Quick Histories
On July 28, 2010, the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG agreed to turn the 918 Spyder concept car into a series production vehicle, giving due recognition to the 100 Weissach technicians who worked on its development. 25 prototypes and 8 test cars for various component testing were produced. The production of 918 will be directed by Michael Drolshagen. Porsche began accepting orders on March 21, 2011, and on September 18, 2013, the first production 918 began to be built. The Porsche main factory in Stuttgart created the 918. (for comparison, the Carrera GT was produced in Leipzig, with only the engine made in Stuttgart). In November 2014, the 918th order was placed for the automobile to be finished by the middle of 2015. 297 of the 918 automobiles ordered were for the USA. Around 100 automobiles were ordered by buyers in both Germany and China.
Porsche has produced only a tiny number of true “supercars,” the Porsche 959, Carrera GT, and 911 GT1 being the only examples. The Porsche 918 was created to demonstrate the limits of current automotive technology, much like the Porsche 959 did in the 1980s. The 918 Spyder was the first true “hypercar,” built with the most cutting-edge, sophisticated technology and electrification concepts. The 918 Spyder was an industry-defining hypercar that was unveiled for the 2013 model year after debuting as a concept in 2010. The 918 is recognized as the first hybrid hypercar and is credited with helping to spark the current trend of high-performance hybridization.
Caller 918 answers the phone.
The final Porsche 918 Spyder came off the manufacturing line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on schedule after 21 months of work, as indicated by the checkered flag.
This innovative piece of technology will have a lasting impact much beyond its useful life. The 918 Spyder’s advancements will directly help upcoming sports vehicle generations.
The 918 Spyder was methodically built to be a plug-in performance hybrid. At the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show, where it made its premiere, the hybrid super sports concept car was greeted with resounding success. The production development was approved by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG’s Supervisory Board in the summer of 2010. The 918 Spyder was a continuation of a line of super sports cars in Porsche history when it was introduced on the market in late 2013. The 904 Carrera GTS, the 959, the 911 GT1, and the Carrera GT were all among the pinnacle sports cars of their eras and were all technological pioneers.
For instance, Porsche developed a steel and polymer body for the 904 Carrera GTS in 1963, which serves as a perfect illustration of how to combine solidity and lightweight design. The 959 was a sports automobile that was successful in 1986 in introducing an electronically controlled all-wheel drive system. The 911 GT1 cleared the path for the incorporation of carbon-fibre technology in production vehicles ten years later. The Carrera GT made its debut in 2003 as the first production car with a fully carbon fiber reinforced polymer monocoque and subframe (CFRP).
Improved dynamic performance thanks to hybrid drive
Porsche hybrid drive technology combines efficiency with unmatched dynamic capability. With the Panamera S E-Hybrid, Porsche has already assumed this leading position in the creation of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Thanks to the 918 Spyder, Porsche is now expanding this role in the super sportscar market. The combustion engine and two electric motors must be used strategically while utilizing the unique advantages that each power source has to offer. Five driving modes are available for drivers to select from, allowing for the best control of a single or mixed drive using the 4.6-liter, eight-cylinder engine’s 447 kW (608 hp) and the two electric motors’ combined 210 kW. (286 hp). The vehicle’s range stretches from fully electric driving across distances of up to 30 kilometers to the racetrack-specific configuration. The 918 Spyder lives up to its promise of being a simple sports car for everyday usage while also being able to break records for the best racing drivers.
The innovative all-wheel drive system, which consists of a combined combustion engine and electric motor drive system on the rear axle and a second electric motor on the front axle, allows for the dynamic performance of the 918. Porsche’s motorsport research work for the popular 911 GT3 R hybrid served as the foundation for this idea. The additional front-wheel drive, which is individually controlled, enables the application of new driving techniques, particularly for exceptionally high yet secure speeds in bends. Additionally, the sophisticated Boost method offers a clever way to control the energy of the electric drive. The plan makes sure that in order to maximize acceleration during each burst of speed, the 918 Spyder’s unrestricted entire power can only be used by fully pushing the accelerator pedal.
Future Porsche sportscar generations will profit from the ground-breaking developments in this technological milestone. While impressively demonstrating the potential offered by plug-in technology for maximum performance and efficiency, the 918 Spyder exemplifies the typical Porsche character. In other words, the genetic code for the Porsche sportscar of the future is found in the 918 Spyder.