The Porsche 918 Spyder is a mid-engined plug-in hybrid supercar designed by Porsche. The Spyder is powered by a normally-aspirated 4.6 liter V8 engine, developing 608 horsepower (453 kW), with two electric motors delivering an additional 279 horsepower (208 kW) for a combined output of 887 horsepower (661 kW). The 918 Spyder's 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivers an all-electric range of 12 mi (19 km) under EPA's five-cycle tests.[1] The car has a top speed of around 340 km/h (210 mph).[3]
The 918 Spyder is a limited edition supercar, and Porsche plans to manufacture 918 units as a 2015 model year. Production began on September 18, 2013, with deliveries initially scheduled to begin in December 2013.[4][5] The starting price is US$845,000.[3] It is the second plug-in hybrid car from Porsche, after the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid.[6] The 918 Spyder was sold out in December 2014. The country with the most orders is the United States with 297 units.[7]
The 918 Spyder was first shown as a concept at the 80th Geneva Motor Show in March 2010.[4] The production version was unveiled at the September 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.[8] 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.[9]
The 918 Spyder is a limited edition supercar, and Porsche plans to manufacture 918 units as a 2015 model year. Production began on September 18, 2013, with deliveries initially scheduled to begin in December 2013.[4][5] The starting price is US$845,000.[3] It is the second plug-in hybrid car from Porsche, after the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid.[6] The 918 Spyder was sold out in December 2014. The country with the most orders is the United States with 297 units.[7]
The 918 Spyder was first shown as a concept at the 80th Geneva Motor Show in March 2010.[4] The production version was unveiled at the September 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.[8] 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.[9]
Specifications
The 918 Spyder is a mid-engined two-seater sports car designed by Michael Mauer.[10] It is powered by a 4.6 litre V8 engine. The engine is built on the same architecture as the one used in the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype racing car without any engine belts.
The energy storage system is a 312-cell, liquid-cooled 6.8 kW·h 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. CO2 emissions are 79 g/km[6] and fuel consumption is 3.0 L/100 km (94 imperial mpg/78 us mpg) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).[16] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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 67 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPG-e) (3.5 L/100 km; 80 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent).[1] When powered only by the gasoline engine, EPA's official combined city/highway fuel economy is 22 mpg-US (11 L/100 km; 26 mpg-imp).[1]
The 4.6 litre V-8 petrol engine can recharge an empty battery on about two litres of fuel.[17] 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.[18]
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 18 miles (29 km) for the concept model.[18] The official U.S. EPA all-electric range is 12 mi (19 km). The total range with a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery is 420 miles (680 km) according to EPA tests.[1] Under the E-Drive mode the car can reach 93 mph (150 km/h).[4] Three hybrid modes (Hybrid, Sport and Race) 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.[19] The chassis is a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque.
On July 28, 2010, after 2000 declarations of interest, the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, gave the green light for series development of the 918 Spyder.[20]
Recalls and issues
On July 28, 2014 a recall was issued for all Porsche 918 vehicles manufactured between May 7, 2014 and June 18, 2014 due to, "rear-axle control arms that may break, causing difficulty controlling the vehicle."[21]Later that year, on December 23, 2014, another recall was issued for all Porsche 918 vehicles that were manufactured from February 25, 2014 to September 18, 2014 as the, "front lower control arms may fracture." The NHTSA stated that, "fracture of a lower control arm while the vehicle is being driven increases the risk of a crash." Remedy parts are not expected to be available until the end of February, 2015.[22]
Sales and production
The production version was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.[8] The 2013 model year 918 Spyder is being produced in a limited series and it was developed in Weissach and assembled in Zuffenhausen. Porsche planned to manufacture 918 units as a 2014 model year and production started on November 18, 2013, with deliveries scheduled to begin in December 2013.[4][5] Sales in the United States began in June 2014.[23] Pricing for the 918 Spyder starts at US$845,000 (~ €611,000 or GB£511,000).[3] According to its battery size, the 918 Spyder is eligible to a federal tax credit of up to US$3,667.[24]As of November 2014[update], over 800 units have been ordered worldwide, with planned production sold out through late March or early April 2015. Production is scheduled to end in July 2015.[25][26] According to JATO Dynamics, a total of 105 units have been registered worldwide during the first nine months of 2014.[27] The United States is the leading market with 57 cars delivered through November 2014.[28] As of October 2014[update], a total of 9 units were registered in Switzerland,[29] 6 in the Netherlands,[30] 5 units in Canada,[28] and 4 in Sweden.[31] Production was sold out in December 2014. The country with the most orders is the United States with 297 units,[7] followed by China and Germany with approximately 100 orders each.[32]
RSR
The 918 RSR at the 2011 North American International Auto Show.
Nürburgring lap time record
Porsche announced that on September 4, 2013, a 918 fitted with the optional 'Weissach Package' set a Nürburgring lap time of 6:57 on the 12.8 mi (20.6 km) road course, reducing the previous record by 14 seconds, and making it the first series production street-legal automobile to break the 7 minute barrier (The fastest time of 6:55 is held by a Radical SR8, however cannot be converted to street use in certain countries).type - Series Production Car.
released at - 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
built at - Germany
engineers - Frank Walliser
price €/td>€ 768,026
engine - Hybrid V8 w/2 Electric Motors
position - Mid, Longitudinal w/
block material - Aluminum
valvetrain - DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed - Direct Fuel Injection
displacement - 4593 cc / 280.28 in³
power - 661.4 kw / 887 bhp @ 8500 rpm
specific output - 193.12 bhp per litre
bhp/weight - 521.76 bhp per tonne
torque - 1280 nm / 944.1 ft lbs
redline - 9000
body / frame - Carbon Fiber Panels over Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Monocoque
driven wheels - 4WD
front tires - 265/35 ZR20
rear tires - 325/30 ZR21
front brakes - PCCB Cabron-Ceramic Discs w/6-Piston Calipers
rear brakes - PCCB Cabron-Ceramic Discs w/6-Piston Calipers
front wheels - F 50.8 x 24.1 cm / 20 x 9.5 in
rear wheels - R 53.3 x 31.8 cm / 21 x 12.5 in
steering - Electro-Mechanical Power Assist
f suspension - Double Wishbones w/PASM Dampers
r suspension - Multi-Link w/Rear-Wheel Steering, PASM Dampers
curb weight - 1700 kg / 3749 lbs
dry weight - 1640 kg / 3616 lbs
wheelbase - 2730 mm / 107.5 in
front track - 1664 mm / 65.5 in
rear track - 1612 mm / 63.5 in
length - 4643 mm / 182.8 in
width - 1940 mm / 76.4 in
height - 1167 mm / 45.9 in
transmission - 7-Speed PDK Automatic
top speed - ~345 kph / 214.25 mph
0 - 100 kph~2.8 seconds
0 - 200 kph~7.7 seconds
fuel econ epa - 5.23 L/100 km or 45 mpg-us
combined fuel econ eu - 3.0 L/100 km or 78.40 mpg-us
emission - 70 g/km
fuel capacity - 70 litres or 18.48 gal.
