The Porsche 918 Spyder is a limited-production mid-engineplug-in hybridsupercar manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Porsche. The 918 Spyder is powered by a naturally aspiratedV8 engine, developing at 8,700 rpm, with two electric motors delivering an additional for a combined output of and of torque. The 918 Spyder's 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivers an all-electric range of under the US Environmental Protection Agency's five-cycle tests. Production began on 18 September 2013, with deliveries initially scheduled to begin in December 2013, and a starting price of ~ €611,000. The 918 Spyder was sold out in December 2014 and production ended in June 2015. The 918 Spyder was first shown as a concept at the 80th Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. On 28 July 2010, after 2,000 declarations of interest, the supervisory board of Porsche AG approved series development of the 918 Spyder. The production version was unveiled at the September 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Porsche also unveiled the RSR racing variant of the 918 at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, which combines hybrid technology first used in the 997 GT3 R Hybrid, with styling from the 918 Spyder. But that version didn't make it to production. The 918 Spyder was the second plug-in hybrid car manufactured by Porsche, after the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid.
Specifications
The 918 Spyder is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine built on the same architecture as the one used in the RS SpyderLe Mans Prototype racing car without any engine belts. The engine weighs according to Porsche and delivers at 8,700 rpm and of maximum torque at 6,700 rpm. This is supplemented by two electric motors delivering an additional. One electric motor drives the rear wheels in parallel with the engine and also serves as the main generator. This motor and engine deliver power to the rear axle via a 7-speed gearbox coupled to Porsche's own PDK double-clutch system. The front electric motor directly drives the front axle; an electric clutch decouples the motor when not in use. The total system delivers and of torque. Porsche provided official performance figures of 0- in 2.6 seconds, 0- in 7.2 seconds, 0- in 19.9 seconds and a top speed of. Those numbers were surpassed in independent tests which yielded 2.5 seconds for 0-100 km/h, 7.0 seconds for 0-200 km/h, 19.1 seconds for 0-300 km/h, a top speed of and 17.75 seconds for the standing kilometer reaching a speed of. In Car and Driver‘s independent test of the Porsche 918 they achieved 0–60 mph in 2.2 seconds, 0–100 mph in 4.9 seconds, 0–180 mph in 17.5 seconds, and the quarter mile in 9.8 seconds. In Motor Trend's independent test the Porsche 918 set a production-car track record at Willow Springs Raceway. With a time of 2.4 seconds it was the fastest car to 60 mph that they had ever tested. It stopped from 60 mph in, and broke Motor Trend's figure 8 record at 22.2 seconds. The energy storage system is a 312-cell, liquid-cooled 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. In addition to a plug-in charge port at the passenger-side B pillar, the batteries are also charged by regenerative braking and by excess output from the engine when the car is coasting. emissions are 79 g/km and fuel consumption is under the New European Driving Cycle. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its five-cycle tests rated the 2015 model year Porsche 918 Spyder energy consumption in all-electric mode at 50 kWh per 100 miles, which translates into a combined city/highway fuel economy of. When powered only by the gasoline engine, EPA's official combined city/highway fuel economy is. The 4.6 litre V8 petrol engine can recharge an empty battery on about two litres of fuel. The supplied Porsche Universal Charger requires seven hours to charge the battery on a typical 110 volt household AC socket or two hours on a dedicated Charging Dock installed with a 240 volt industrial supply. An optional DC Speed Charging Station can restore the battery to full capacity in 25 minutes. The 918 Spyder offers five different running modes: E-Drive allows the car to run under battery power alone, using the rear electric motor and front motor, giving a range of for the concept model. The official U.S. EPA all-electric range is. The total range with a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery is according to EPA tests. Under the E-Drive mode the car can attain a maximum speed of. Two hybrid modes use both the engine and electric motors to provide the desired levels of economy and performance. In Race mode a push-to-pass button initiates the Hot Lap setting, which delivers additional electrical power. The chassis is a carbon-fibre-reinforced plasticmonocoque and the brake system is boosted electrically.
Sales and production
The production version was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 918 Spyder was produced in a limited series and it was developed in Weissach and assembled in Zuffenhausen for the 2014 model year. Production for the 2014 model year started on 18 September 2013, with deliveries scheduled to begin in December 2013. Sales in the United States began in June 2014. Pricing for the 918 Spyder started at ~ . According to its battery size, the 918 Spyder was eligible to a federal tax credit of up to. Production ended in June 2015 as scheduled. The country with the most orders is the United States with 297 units, followed by China and Germany with approximately 100 orders each, and Canada ordering 35 units. According to JATO Dynamics, a total of 105 units have been registered worldwide during the first nine months of 2014. The United States is the leading market with 202 units delivered up to May 2015., a total of 9 units were registered in Switzerland, 6 in the Netherlands, 5 units in Canada, 4 in Sweden, 3 in Brazil and 1 in South Africa.
RSR
At the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Porsche unveiled the RSR racing variant of the 918 Spyder. Instead of using plug-in hybrid technology, power for the two electric motors is provided by a flywheel accumulator KERS system that sits beside the driver in the passenger compartment. The V8 is a further development of the direct injection engine from the RS Spyder race car developing at 10,300 rpm. The electric motors each provide an additional, giving a peak power output of. The six speed gearbox is a development of the unit from the RS Spyder.
In September 2013 a 918 fitted with the optional 'Weissach Package' set a Nürburgring lap time of 6:57 on the road course, reducing the previous record by 14 seconds, and making it the first series production street-legal car to break the 7-minute barrier.
