Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche's hybrid supercar concept

New Porsche 918 Spyder, a hybrid supercar that laps the 'Ring in under 7.30mins

Porsche surprised everyone on the eve of the Geneva show by revealing the Porsche 918 Spyder prototype, billed as a potential successor to Porsche’s mighty Carrera GT supercar.  The 918 Spyder combines 218bhp of electric hybrid power for the front and rear axles with a mid-engined, V8 petrol engine (derived from the 3.4-litre power unit fitted to the RS Spyder racing car), developing more than 500bhp and having a maximum engine speed of 9,200rpm. Power from this engine is transmitted via a seven speed ‘Doppelkupplungsgetriebe’ (that’s PDK to you and me) gearbox to the rear axle, while the front wheels are directly driven via the electric motor.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Read about the Porsche 911 GT3 R hybrid here There’s a liquid cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell, which can be re-charged via the car’s kinetic energy when braking or by plugging into the regular electrical network when the car is parked. A switch on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose four different running modes; E-Drive is for running on electric power only (with a range up to 16 miles), Hybrid mode for maximum efficiency, Sport Hybrid where the car uses both drive systems with the focus on performance, or Race-Hybrid for maximum performance complete with a ‘KERS’ type button on the steering wheel for additional electrical power when overtaking, for example. The cars features a monocoque bodyshell built from carbon fibre and boasts an overall weight of 1490kg.

Porsche Carrera GT takes on Veyron, Enzo and Zonda The result of having all this new technology is spectacular, both in terms of CO2 emissions and outright performance claims. Porsche claim the 918 Spyder will achieve an CO2 emission level of just 70g/km (equal to 94mpg) on the EU CO2 cycle, yet the 918 Spyder can sprint to 62mph in just 3.2secs, has a top speed of over 198mph and can lap the Nordschleife in less than 7minutes 30seconds, faster even than the Porsche Carrera GT. Will it go into production? Well, Porsche have a good track record of putting their concept cars into production so here’s hoping the Porsche 918 Spyder keeps up the tradition. If they do, then don’t expect to see it in Porsche showrooms until around 2013 at the earliest.

Chris Harris reviews Porsche 918 on video, part one and part two

Porsche also unveiled a 911 GT3 R hybrid at Geneva

Click here for evo’s full Geneva motor show roundup

Read evo editor Nick Trott's blog on the 918 Spyder

Follow evo on Twitter or Facebook for car news and views

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – from grassroots greats to supercar slayers
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – from grassroots greats to supercar slayers

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
10 Mar 2025
Porsche's EV U-turn means more new petrol cars and hybrids are coming
2025 Porsche 911 GT3
News

Porsche's EV U-turn means more new petrol cars and hybrids are coming

The 911 will get even more exclusive and desirable variants with increased customisability going forward
12 Mar 2025
Pagani Utopia 2025 review – £2.2m Huayra successor nails the hypercar formula
Pagani Utopia
Reviews

Pagani Utopia 2025 review – £2.2m Huayra successor nails the hypercar formula

Only Pagani’s third model-line in more than 25 years, the Utopia builds on everything that made the Zonda and Huayra great, then adds its own unique c…
12 Mar 2025