Porsche 918 Spyder Gets Its UK Debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
4639 photos
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gave the 918 Spyder its UK public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend. The 887hp hybrid supercar is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 and two electric motors to get it to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds and a 211mph top speed. Plus, it has been certified of emissions of just 79g/km of CO2. It does not come cheap, though. The 918 will start at €781,155 when it goes on sale, and the lighter Weissach package will bring the price up to €853,155.  

Porsche says that the concept for the 918 was to create a supercar for the next decade. It began with the powertrain. The engine came from the V8 from the RS SpyderPorsche RS SpyderGermany, 2005 > present2 photos
LMP2 car, and the electric motors will be used by Porsche in future cars. They were first developed from the 911 GT3 R HybridPorsche 911 GT3 R HybridGermany, 2011 > present15 photos
racecar. The motors car adjust power between the front axle for torque vectoring all-wheel drive. 

The battery pack and electric motors also mean that the engine is not responsible for any ancillary functions. It has not external belts at all.

The monocoque, subframe are made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. With the Weissach package, the car weights 1,640kg (3,616lb) and has a 43:57 front-rear weight distribution.

The Weissach package also includes additional color options; the roof, rear wings, rear-view mirrors and frames of the windshield are made from carbon fiber that is left unpainted; Alcantara interior, six-point racing harnesses less sound insulation, magnesium wheels.

The 918 Spyder is due to go on sale in the late summer or early fall of 2013.