Porsche 918 Spyder : The Highly Awaited Hybrid Supercar
It has been a while since the German car manufacturer Porsche introduced the Carrera GT, which was unanimously voted as one of the best sports cars of all time. But that is quite understandable—it would be very difficult to top a car like the Porsche Carrera GT.
Many Porsche fans have waited for nearly seven years before the German company unveiled a worthy successor to the Carrera GT, and we dare say that the wait is worth it.
The Porsche 918 Spyder made its debut as a concept car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, with the production version introduced three years later at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Aside from the Spyder supercar model, Porsche has also unveiled an RSR racing model at the North American International Auto Show in 2011. The German sports car manufacturer has announced that it will manufacture 918 units of the Porsche 918 Spyder. Production began in September 2013, and all 918 units completed by December 2014. A huge chunk of the orders came from the United States, where there are currently nearly 300 units. The Porsche 918 Spyder comes in an impressive, trademark Porsche roadster form, while the RSR is a two-door coupe.
The Porsche 918 Spyder is a hybrid supercar, and surprisingly, it is the second plug-in hybrid car model from Porsche (the first was the Panamera S E-Hybrid). The Spyder is powered by two types of engine: a 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine and two electric motors located at the front and rear axles. The petrol engine can produce 608 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 528 Nm of torque; this engine is supplemented by two electric motors that can produce an additional 279 horsepower. The petrol and electric motor combination is complemented by a seven-speed gearbox with Porsche’s trademark PDK double-clutch system. The Porsche 918 Spyder’s engine was based on the RS Spyder, a Le Mans classic. The German car manufacturer took inspiration from the RS Spyder, but added plenty of modern technology that take the Porsche 918 Spyder from being a powerful machine to a work of art.
The Porsche 918 Spyder goes from zero to sixty miles per hour in an impressive 2.6 seconds, and optimal speed clock in at 211 miles per hour. The Spyder also boasts of being an all-wheel drive vehicle, further adding to its stability and reliability as an actual car one would drive on the streets. The brakes are also surprisingly great, especially when compared to the brake systems of other supercars in the market.
Like other supercars from various manufacturers, the price tag for the Porsche 918 Spyder is quite steep—each unit costs around $847,975 to $931,975, much cheaper than the other models on the market. Do not let the slightly affordable price tag fool you—the Porsche 918 Spyder can still deliver impressive performance and classic style on the streets.
All 918 units of the Porsche 918 Spyder are sold out, so if you want one, you might want to wait for an owner to let go of one of these beauties.
