First seen at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show as a concept, Porsche AG subsequently gave the green light for the production of 918 units (hence part of its nomenclature) and was then launched in late 2013.
With a kerb weight of 1,700kg (1,640kg with optional Weissach package), the car uniquely combines a high-performance combustion engine with two electric motors on the rear axle – providing an efficiency-oriented drive or maximum performance.
There’s 4,593cc of displacement for the Spyder, which measures in at 4,643mm-long, 1,940mm-wide, 1,167mm-tall and has a wheelbase of 2,730mm with a 1,664mm front track and 1,612mm for the rear.
The 135kg naturally-aspirated 4.6-litre mid-mounted 90-degree V8 engine puts out 600bhp at 8,500rpm and 530Nm of torque at 6,600rpm, while mated to a seven-speed Porsche PDK double clutch automatic gearbox and can be decouple from the engine when not in use.
Furthermore, the engine gets assisted by two electric motors with a 6.8kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack, allowing them to produce 280bhp of instant boost.
One of the batteries provide an additional 150bhp for the rear wheels alone and functions in parallel with the main engine while acting as the main generator and the other provides the remaining 130bhp of electric-traction for the front wheels.
Combining both electric and engine outputs, the Spyder gets nothing less than 880bhp and 1,280Nm of torque for its all-wheel-drive system, allowing it to run the century sprint (0-100kph) in 2.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 340kph.
The 918 Spyder rolls on 20-inch wheels at the front with 265/35 tyres and 21-inch wheels at the rear with 325/30 tyres – partially hiding the 410mm (front) and 390mm (rear) disc brakes.
It also features five separate cooling circuits and an innovative hybrid cooling of the rear electric motor via a combination of water and air, while being able to convert more kinetic energy into electrical energy than any other hybrid vehicles.
To help keep its weight down, there exists its all-carbon body equipped with a fully variable aerodynamics and a rear axle steering system – both of which have already made their way into production sports cars such as the 911 Turbo models that include the GT3 and GT3 RS.
In September 2013, it managed to set the lap record for street-legal vehicles with production tyres on the North Loop of the infamous Nürburgring (Green Hell) with an un-bested time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds.
