Porsche 918 development moves forward

Porsche has given us the best look yet at their 918 Spyder, featuring 770hp of petrol-electric hybrid power. The development phase has taken a step forward with near production-ready prototypes now under evaluation.

The overall look has moved on a little from the 2010 concept car, but the beautifully proportioned supercar shape has not been lost.

Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG explains, “What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance.”

Redefining is quite apt, too. Porsche claims the 918 Spyder can achieve these key numbers: 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds, reach a top speed of 325km/h, use as little as three litres of petrol per 100km travelled and cover 25km with zero-emission electric power.

The 918 Spyder has the makings of something very special indeed.

Development of the Porsche super sports car enters next phase

918 Spyder prototypes commence trials

Stuttgart. The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has taken the driving trials of the super sports car of the future a step further with completion of the initial prototypes. The 918 Spyder will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first customers receiving their vehicles before 2013 is out. “What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG.

The prototypes, their camouflage harking back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars, signal the final touches to the 918 Spyder. The focus is on the interplay between the highly sophisticated individual drive components. The combination of combustion engine and two independent electric motors – one on the front axle and one in the drive line, acting on the rear wheels – poses completely new demands on the development of the operating strategies. “They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” said Wolfgang Hatz. These operating strategies and the development of the software to go with them are one of Porsche’s core competences. Both of them have a major influence on the extreme driving fun to be had with the 918 Spyder and they make possible a unique combination of minimal fuel consumption and maximum performance. The initial results of the driving trials are in line with the high expectations placed on the 918 Spyder.

The super sports car is designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for extraordinary performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a racing machine boasting more than 770 hp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the region of three litres per 100 kilometres. Moreover, Porsche is breaking yet more new ground with the technology demonstrator with spectacular solutions such as the full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque with unit carrier, fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and the upward-venting “top pipes” exhaust system. In the process, the 918 Spyder is offering a glimpse of what Porsche Intelligent Performance may be capable of in future.

Specifications of the Porsche 918 Spyder*

Body:
Two-seater Spyder; carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) monocoque interlocked with CFRP unit carrier; two-piece Targa roof; fixed roll-over protection system.

Drivetrain:
Parallel full hybrid; 4.6-litre V8 mid-engine with drysump lubrication; hybrid module with electric motor and decoupler; electric motor with decoupler and gear unit on front axle; electrical system recuperation; four cooling circuits for motors, transmission and battery; thermal management.

Engine Power:
> 570 hp (V8 engine)
~ 90 kW (hybrid module on rear axle)
~ 80 kW (electric motor on front axle)
> 770 hp (combined)

Suspension:
Double-wishbone front axle; optional electro-pneumatic lift system on front axle; electro-mechanical power steering; multi-link rear axle with adaptive electromechanical system for individual rear wheel steering

Brake system:
High-performance hybrid brake system with adaptive recuperation; ceramic brake discs (PCCB).

Energy supply:
Lithium-ion battery with 6.8 kWh capacity (BOL nominal), 202 kW maximum power and mainscompatible plug-in charger.

Performance:
Top speed > 325 km/h
purely electric > 150 km/h

Acceleration:
0 – 100 km/h < 3.0 s

Consumption (NEDC):
Total ~ 3.0 l/100 km

CO2 emissions:
Total ~ 70 g/km

Range:
Purely electric > 25 km

* Provisional specifications