Porsche has surprised the crowds at this year’s Geneva Motor Show by unveiling its new Porsche 918 Spyder super-sports concept car.
Unlike the current generation of Porsches, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept boasts a mid-engine layout and a fuel economy figure to rival most small hatchbacks.
It uses an innovative plug-in hybrid system which reduces emissions to just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre and fuel consumption to an incredible 3.0- litres per 100 kilometres.
Despite its green intentions, the Porsche 918 Spyder also features a 3.4-litre V8 powerplant churning out more than 370kW at 9200rpm.
Coupled with three more electric motors with an overall output of 160kW, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept delivers in excess of 530kW to all four wheels via a seven-speed PDK transmission.
“A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles.”
“In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.”
Two additional performance modes are available which translate the otherwise economical attributes of the drivetrain into added horsepower, with the electric drive components acting as a turbocharger would for added power.
“With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.”
In a bold statement, Porsche believes its 918 Spyder would lap the Nordschleife circuit faster than even the infamous Porsche Carrera GT.
