Jumping the gun a day early on Geneva, Porsche pulled the cloth off its 918 Spyder hybrid concept, a dazzling beauty with some very interesting numbers. The muscled-up 918 Spyder, which just emulates raw, track-worthy power, gives drivers access to 718 horses through a combination of 500 hp 3.4-liter V8 engine and three front- and rear-mounted electric motors. A lithium-ion battery mounted behind the passenger seat provides the electricity. The power is sent to the wheels via a seven-speed PDK transmission.
While that powertrain would foreshadow the 918 Spyder’s performance numbers, like the 3.2-second 0 to 62 mph and 198 mph top speed, we wouldn’t expect to see the Porsche-estimated mileage of 78 mpg. The Spyder Hybrid also beats the Carrerra GT around Nurburgring with a sub-7:30 time.
The Spyder features four drive modes including an all-electric option with a 16-mile range, hybrid mode, sport mode and race mode, each of which tempers efficiency and performance toward specific levels. Porsche uses a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic moncoque shell to keep weight at just 3,285 lbs.
