Porsche’s 918 Hybrid ready for the road

Bruce Mbingeleli

There are only three words to describe this car, “Oh my word” what have the German’s done this time around? Most people would feel the same way I’m feeling right now; shocked, amazed and having that weird look on your face. This car has a unique appeal.

The Porsche 918 Spyder was unveiled in September 19^th at  its present form; Porsche’s upcoming hybrid supercar looks more like something out of Doctor Brown’s imagination than the flashy concept that stunned the crowds at the 2010 Geneva auto show.

The 918 Spyder is a mid-engined two-seater sports car designed by Micheal Mauer.  According to the brochure, this car is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine, which is a development of the engine used in the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype racing car. The engine delivers 430kW and a maximum of 500Nm of torque. This supplemented by two electric motors delivering an additional 180 kW. One 85 kW electric motor drives the rear wheels in parallel with the engine and also serves as the main generator. The spyder’s engine delivers power to the rear axle via a 7-speed gearbox coupled to Porsche’s own PDK double-clutch system.

The front serves a mere 95 kW of electric motor directly drives the front axle; an electric clutch decouples the motor when not in use, the total system delivers 614 kW and 780Nm of torque we talking serious power right here. Its performance figures of 0-100km/h in just 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 325 km/h, but Minister of Transport Mr Benedict Martins will mind to keep the speed at a governed rate of 250km/h. Its energy storage system is a 6kW/h liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. With an additional to plugging in to recharge, the batteries are also charged by regenerative braking and by excess output from the engine when the car is coasting. CO2 emissions are 70g/km and fuel consumption is 3 L/100km.

The 918 spyder offers four different running models: E-Drive allows the car to run under battery power alone, using the rear electric motor, giving a range of 40 km; the car can reach 160km/h in this mode according to the brochure.  The three hybrid modes (Hybrid, Sport and Race) use both engines and electric motors to provide the desired levels of economy and performance. In Race mode a push-to-pass button is available to deliver additional electric power. The chassis is a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic monocoque. Magnesium and aluminium are extensively used in the construction of the car which helps the 918 Spyder’s weight down to 1,700 kilograms.

The 918 Spyder will be produced in a limited series and it will be developed in Weissach and assembled in Zuffenhausen. Porsche intends to manufacture 918 units as a 2014 model year starting on September 18 2013 and deliveries are scheduled to begin in December 2013.