Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Is Faster Than Carrera GT

The famous sport car maker Porsche have now announced that they will seriously consider producing the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid concept they showed at the Geneva Motor Show last year. At the moment the reason cited is the overwhelming response from the public and consumers.

This move have the potential to create a new Porsche flag ship currently associated with the Porsche Carrera GT. The GT powered by 5.5 litre V10 engine that gives it 605 hp while in comparison the 918 Spyder Hybrid is powered by 3.4 litre V8 engine which gives 500 hp. However, because the 918 Spyder Hybrid has two electric motors on each of its axle, it could potentially reach 718 hp which is a lot more that what GT could provide. Granted that 918 Spyder Hybrid is some 300 pounds heavier than the GT.

With all of those power under its belt, the 918 Spyder Hybrid can get from zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds with the top speed of 198 miles per hour. With its hybrid function on, the 918 can get the fuel efficient of an amazing 78 miles per gallon, however, the top speed will only be 94 miles per hour and for 25 miles distance before needing a recharge.

Although Porsche still needs to calculate the feasibility of producing another iconic car which can sometimes flop, the company is known for being the leader in automotive performance and technology. These days where more and more people are environmentally conscious, Porsche needs to maximize fuel efficient while at the same time not sacrificing performance, which is exactly what happen with the 918 Spyder Hybrid. Especially with the increasingly stringent emission standard in the US and Europe. The 918 Spyder Hybrid concept emit only 70 g/km of emission

In its press release Porsche said that they will develop the 918 Spyder Hybrid out of their factories in Weissach and assemble it in Zuffenhausen Germany.

Michael Macht, President and Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG said that “Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts. ”

Porsche currently has two other hybrid models, the Cayenne Hybrid SUV, currently on sale, and the Panamera Hybrid four-door hatchback, entering production soon. Porsche also has a hybrid race car competing in LeMans endurance races.

For interior, the 918 Spyder Hybrid driver and passenger are embedded in contoured sports bucket seats with its synthesis of efficient function and ergonomic high-tech operation offering an outlook at the interior architecture signaling a super sports cars of the future while the three free-standing circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed (middle) and energy management (right) would appear to come directly from a racing car in the ‘60s.

The centre console rising up towards the front in the 918 Spyder Hybrid houses a touch-sensitive surface for intuitive control of the car’s functions, serving consistently to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.

The control units relevant to the driver are concentrated in particular on the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented by a map switch enabling the driver to call up various drive programs and serving as the push-to-pass button for E-boosting, for example when overtaking. Instrument illumination varies from green for the consumption-oriented running modes to red for the performance-oriented driving programs.

Porsche 918 RSR Coupe Concept: Live Photos from Detroit

Porsche decided to keep the production version of the 918 Spyder under wraps for now showing off instead the motorsport-inspired 918 RSR Coupe Concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Combining hybrid racing technology with a dramatic looking coupe body style, the RSR is every bit as impressive as the design study showcased last year at Geneva. For its motivation, the 918 RSR relies on a V8 gasoline engine delivering 563HP and a pair of electric motors producing a combined output of 204HP. Check out our gallery with live pictures from the Detroit show after the break or click here for more details on Porsche's conceptual racer.

By Csaba Daradics

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World Premiere for Porsche 918 RSR Coupe Concept at Detroit Show

Porsche's return to the Detroit Show after a four year-absence is marked with the introduction of a new racing concept based on the company's 918 Spyder from last year's Geneva Salon. The 918 RSR is a two-seat mid-engined coupe, and according to Porsche, it demonstrates what happens when the technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car and the design of the 918 Spyder concept are combined together.

The motorsports version of the 918 Spyder concept car gets a V8 engine based on the RS Spyder race car's 3.4-liter unit tuned to deliver 563HP at 10,300 rpm, and is linked to a six-speed racing transmission with shift paddles that feeds the rear wheels.

A pair of electrics motors mounted on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW (102 hp), or a total of 204HP, lifting the combined output to 767HP. The German maker notes that the extra power from the electric motors is available for around eight seconds when the system is fully charged.

As with the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car, the additional power from the electric motors, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimized flywheel accumulator.

In the 918 RSR study, the two electric motors also offer a torque vectoring function with variable torque distribution to the front axle, which increases agility and improves steering response.

Aside from the coupe configuration with the fixed roof and the characteristic doors which open at an angle upwards, the 918 RSR also features an added air intake in the roof between the wing doors, a special aero package that includes air splitters beneath the front lip and a huge rear wing, plus slick tires on 19-inch wheels with single centre locking nut.

The interior of the road-spec 918 Spyder has also been modified and comes with a single figure-hugging bucket seat, while the passenger seat has been replaced by flywheel accumulator.

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Porsche's Detroit Motor Show World Premiere Rumored to be 918 Coupe Racer

We already know that Porsche plans to debut a new model at the rapidly approaching North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next week, but the problem is that the German sports car maker is keeping its cards close to its chest about the type of vehicle it will unveil.

Adding to the many rumors already circulating on the internet, Bloomberg today reported that the model in question will be a racing coupe version of the 918 Spyder hybrid concept that was first shown at last year's Geneva Show.

Citing two people with knowledge of the matter, the news agency said that the car will be a two-seater concept coupe featuring a 600-horsepower V8. We'll remind you that the 918 Spyder, which was recently approved for a limited production run, gets a 500HP 3.4 liter V8 electro-enhanced by way of motors that add another 160 kW (218 hp).

We'll monitor the story and post an update if anything new arises, but for now, check out some renderings of a competition 918 made by a member of the Teamspeed forums in the video below.

Source: Bloomberg , Video / Rendering: Teamspeed

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Porsche Carrera GT V10 Engine for Sale on eBay Begs the Question: Where Would You Use it?

It's not every day that you find a Porsche Carrera GT engine up for sale on eBay, or anywhere else for that matter. This particular example of Porsche's 5.7-liter V10 thoroughbred engine with an output of 612 bhp at 8,000 rpm and maximum torque of 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) at 5,750 rpm, is said to have clocked a mere 6,000 miles or just under 10,000 km.

It's not clear from the seller's description if the ten-cylinder powerplant comes alone or together with the 6-speed manual gearbox, but the starting price is set at US$103,000 and the 'Buy it Now' price at US$128,000 [~€96,000]. Our question is simple; if you had the money to buy the V10, what car would you use it on? Voice your thoughts in the comments section after the jump.

Source: eBay , Via: VWvortex