Porsche 918 Spyder – the new Porsche Carrera GT

Porsche has revealed the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Hypercar

We have to confess, we didn’t actually see this coming, the Porsche 918 Spyder. And even if we had I don’t think we’d have guessed it would be a hybrid hypercar. Perhaps it’s a first – a hybrid hypercar. And it’s alliterative. We should have used it in the headline.

The Porsche 918 Spyder has a V8 engine delivering ‘…more than 500bhp‘. It has 3 electric motors which kick in a further 218bhp. All this leads to a 0-60mph time of just over 3 seconds and a top speed – near as makes no difference – of 200mph.

But the detail is what makes the 918 Spyder stand out. And not just the performance detail. After all, good though the performance is it’s no longer exceptional for a hypercar. But what is exceptional is Porsche’s claim that the 918 Spyder will do 90mpg and emit just 70g/km CO2.

Of course – just like any hybrid car – you’re not going to hit the super-eco figures if you’re out for a mad blat. So Porsche has made it easy by setting up the 918 Spyder with 4 ‘Modes. E-Drive maximizes efficiency using just electric power for up to 16 miles; Hybrid uses the engine and the motors for efficient round-town cruising; Sport Hybrid lets things get frisky with some Torque Vectoring thrown in for better dynamics and finally there’s Race Hybrid, which throws all the toys at performance using the electric motors to boost the V8 for maximum performance.

The Porsche 918 Spyder will be joined on the Porsche stand by two other Porsche Hybrids – the New 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid and the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid. A Porsche hybrid-fest. It’ll give the Porsche zealots apoplexy.

For more Porsche-speak on the Porsche 918 Spyder have a look at the press release. And as the man from Porsche said – “Porsche has never shown a car it didn’t go on to make.” So expect to see the 918 Spyder on the road – at some point.

By Cars UK