| Make
|
Porsche |
| Model |
918
Spyder Concept |
| Concept
year |
2010 |
| Production
year |
- |
| Engine |
Hybrid,
V8 / Electric |
Porsche don't often do concept cars, and when they do
they're almost always just 'special edition' models of
something they already make.
Thankfully however, deep down inside the Porsche hive,
some designers were tasked recently with the job of styling
something which was going to be genuinely different from
all their current cars.
The 918 Spyder Concept is a hybrid powered two-seat sports
car which looks kind of like a cross between an updated
Carrera
GT and a Boxster
Spyder. It has a low-slung stance, buldging wheel
arches and jumble of vents, intakes and grilles which
all hint at the potential performance.
The hybrid drivetrain of the concept - which consists
of a 500 horsepower V8 and a pair of electric motors offering
up a combined 218 hp - is very clever indeed. It has no
less than four different driving modes which are designed
to offer either maximum range, maximum performance or
a little bit of both.
The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric
power alone, with a range of up to 16 miles (25 km). In
the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric
motors and the combustion engine, offering a range of
performance from fuel-efficient all the way to crazy-fast.
The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with
the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes
to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring helping enhance
the dynamic performance.
In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused
on pure performance with the highest standard of driving
dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power
and dynamic output. With the battery sufficiently charged,
a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power
(E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.
When in race mode the performance numbers are quite shocking.
0-62 mph in under 3.2 seconds, and a top speed of 198
mph (320 km/h).
Porsche states that the interior of the 918 Spyder concept
is designed to provide a hint at what the next generation
of production car interiors will look like. The three
freestanding circular dials for speed (left), engine rpm
(middle) and energy management (right) were influenced
by the style of 1960s race cars.
Similar and related vehicles:
Porsche 918 RSR
|
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