Porsche Reveals Pre-Production 760bhp 918 Spyder

760bhp
Up to 94.2mpg UK
0-62 in 3.2 seconds
200+ MPH Top Speed
£600,00+VAT

The wait for Porsche's most radical sports car ever, the 918 Spyder, is nearing its end with the Stuttgart based automaker having completed the development of the pre-production prototypes, the first photos of which were released today.

First seen as a concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid supercar that will enter production at the end of September 2013. Porsche said that the first customer deliveries will take place "before 2013 is out".

Previously, the Germans had announced that prices in the U.S., excluding destination and handling, will start at $845,000 (equal to €655,000), and in Europe from €645,000 (equal to $835,400) before VAT and country-specific charges.

The new 918 Spyder features a driveline that combines a mid-mounted V8 gasoline engine with a displacement of more than 4.0-liters and an output that exceeds 500-horses driving the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, with two electric motors, one on each axle, with a joint output of at least 218-horses.

Porsche pointed out that while the system's combined output will surpass the 770hp mark, the 918 Spyder will return a fuel consumption of just 3.0lt/100km (78.4mpg US or 94.2mpg UK), evidently with the use of the electric motors, which are believed to be able to power the car alone for at least 25 km (16 miles).

The company previously quoted a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of more than 320 km/h (199 mph), though these numbers are not final.

The flagship Porsche model is built around a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque and features fully adaptive aerodynamics and an adaptive rear-axle steering.

The styling of the pre-production 918 Spyder remains close to the original concept with changes including the new headlamp fixtures, different wheels, the addition of full size exterior mirrors, the subtly redesigned rear end and the relocation of the exhaust pipes from the sides to the top part of the engine compartment.

Porsche has also designed a manual roof system with removable panels that can be stowed away in the front luggage compartment.

Only a few days after Porsche released an official set of images of the pre-production 918 Spyder, our spies sent in new photos of the plug-in hybrid supercar, this time testing with its top down.

The new crown jewel of the Porsche lineup features a targa top solution with a pair of detachable carbon fiber roof panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment and a small windowpane located between the flying buttresses.

The pre-production prototype is finished in a matte black color with white stripes that harks back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars.

Surprisingly, Porsche is not keeping a lot of secrets from us having revealed initial specifications on the 918 Spyder. The spiritual successor of the 959 from the 1980s, of which only a little over 330 units were produced, and the Carrera GT from the mid-2000s (1,270 built), sports a full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body bolted to a carbon-fiber tub.

What really separates the 918 Spyder from all Porsche models is the plug-in hybrid driveline, which links a mid-mounted, 4.6-liter V8 with more than 570PS (+562hp) and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission driving the rear wheels to a pair of electric motors.

The first electric motor is rated at 80kW (107hp) and drives the front wheels, while the other delivers 90kW (121hp) and is mounted in the gearbox housing turning the rear wheels. The system's combined output surpasses the 770PS (+762hp) mark.

The electric motors are powered by a lithium-ion hybrid battery that can be charged in about 2 hours with the use of a compact rapid-charger that will be offered as standard. Naturally, the Porsche hybrid features an energy recuperation system that turns the kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric current when braking.

Porsche claims that the 918 Spyder will be significantly faster than the Carrera GT both in terms of acceleration with a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of less than three seconds (Carrera GT: 3.9 seconds), and also the racing circuit with a lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife of less than 7:22 minutes (Carrera GT: 7:32 minutes).

While we somehow doubt that fuel economy will be a priority for 918 Spyder buyers, truth is, being politically correct and green does matter in our days.

And Porsche delivers in this department promising a guilt-free average fuel consumption of around 3.0lt/100km (equal to 78.4mpg US or 94.2mpg UK) with the use of the batteries that allow for a pure electric range in excess of 25 kilometers (+16 miles). Of course, to achieve these numbers one will probably have to drive the 918 Spyder like a Prius, but that is another story...

Porsche also tells us that he top speed on purely electric power is 150 km/h (94 mph), while with the use of the internal combustion engine the 918 Spyder exceeds 325km/h (202mph).

Other tidbits worth mentioning is that the 918 Spyder will feature five, self-explanatory driving models named E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid and Hot-Lap, the latter for maximum output and speed, as well as the adaptive shock-absorber system PASM and rear-axle steering.

As we have already mentioned, the styling of the 918 Spyder has not changed much from the 2010 concept sans the new headlamp fixtures, different wheels, the addition of full size exterior mirrors, the subtly redesigned rear end and the relocation of the exhaust pipes from the sides to the top part of the engine compartment.

Production of the 918 Spyder will commence on September 18, 2013, with first deliveries in November of the same year.

Porsche plans to keep production strictly limited to 918 units with pricing set at €645,000 (about £525,000 at today's exchange rates), excluding tax and country-specific charges. For those of you interested, the Stuttgart-based automaker has already opened the order books.