[Porsche News] Porsche has released further details about its upcoming 918 Spyder hybrid supercar.
Some of the features highlighted in Porsche’s most recent press release include:
Powerplant:
4,6-litre V8 naturally aspirated petrol engine developing 447 kW (608 hp) and 530 N.m of torque. This unit features dry-sump lubrication with a separate oil tank and oil extraction. Features such as the oil tank, the air filter box integrated into the subframe, titanium con-rods and the carbon fibre reinforced polymer air induction channel help to keep the weight down.
Capable of revving up to 9 150 r/min, this unit has per-unit output of 98 kW/litre; greater than the 79 kW/litre served up by the Carrera GT.
This powerplant is supplemented by two electric motors; a 115 kW unit directly coupled to the petrol engine and a 95 kW independent unit, up front.
Mated with an uprated version of Porsche’s 7-speed PDK transmission, this hybrid powertrain develops maximum outputs of 661 kW and a staggering 1 275 N.m.
Performance:
Porsche claims a 0-100 km/h time of just 2,8 seconds, with 200 km/h reached in 7,9 seconds and 300 km/h taking 23 seconds. The top speed stands at a heady 360 km/h. Owing to its light (for a performance hybrid) weight of 1 640 kg and all-wheel drivetrain set-up, Porsche claims that the 918 Spyder will be capable of lapping the Nurburgring in under 7 minutes, 14 seconds.
Drive modes:
The 918 Spyder’s powertrain set-up accommodates five drive modes.
The ‘E-Power’ mode can propel the car for 30 km solely on electric power. A 0-100 km/h time of less than 7 seconds and speeds of up to 150 km/h are possible under ideal conditions.
‘Hybrid’ mode alternates between petrol and electric drive to attain the best fuel efficiency. Porsche claims a fuel consumption figure as low as 3,3 litres/100 km and CO2 emissions of 79 g/km under optimal conditions.
‘Sport Hybrid’ sees the petrol engine operating continually with the electric motors providing boost when required.
‘Race Hybrid’ is the 918’s all-attack mode; V8 is chiefly used under high load, and charges the battery when the driver is not utilising its maximum output and the electric motors still act as boosters, this time emitting all of their power when applicable. In this mode, the battery charge state is not kept constant, but instead fluctuates over the entire charge range. The combustion engine charging the battery more intensively balances this increased output. Electric power is thus available even with several very fast laps.
‘Hot Lap’ can only be selected in ‘Race hybrid’ mode and pushes the traction battery to its maximum power output limits for a few fast laps. This mode uses all of the available energy in the battery.
Four-wheel steering:
The 918 Spyder also makes use of a four-wheel steering system similar to that of the 911 Turbo. It incorporates an electro-mechanical adjustment system at each rear wheel. The adjustment is speed-sensitive and executes steering angles of up to three degrees in each direction. At low speeds, the rear wheels are steered in the opposite direction opposite to the fronts. At higher speeds, the system steers the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels to improve stability.