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Porsche Presents 918 Spyder High-Performance Concept Sports Car in GenevaHighly Efficient and Ultra-Fast: Concept Car with Plug-In Hybrid
Stuttgart. Presenting a high-performance mid-engined concept sports car with ultra-efficient, low-emission drive technology, Dr. Ing. h.c. F.
The 918 Spyder prototype combines high-tech racing features and electro-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities: An emission level of just 70 grams CO2 per kilometre on fuel consumption of three litres/100 kilometres (equal to 94 mpg imp) truly outstanding even for an ultra-compact city car, on the one hand, combined with the performance of a super sports car and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph) plus, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the
The 918 Spyder is one of three
The highly innovative 918 Spyder concept car combines
The
CO2 emission rating of 70 g/km.
This open two-seater is powered by a high-speed V8 developing more than 500 bhp and running at maximum speed engine of 9,200 rpm as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 bhp (160 kW).
The V8 combustion engine is a further development of the highly successful 3.4-litre power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned midship in front of the rear axle, giving the car the right set-up for supreme performance on the race track through its good balance.
Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed
kupplungsgetriebe also feeding the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a firm transmission ratio.
The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. A further point is that the car’s kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes, thus providing additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.
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.
The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to additionally improve the car’s driving dynamics.
In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the highest standard of driving dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power and dynamic output. With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost), for example when overtaking or for even better performance.
With the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and applications, the 918 Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of a thoroughbred racing car – such as less than 7:30 minutes on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring – or, focusing on a more economical style of motoring, with a reduction in emissions to just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
Like the drivetrain, the lightweight body structure of the 918 Spyder also bears out the car’s DNA carried over directly from motorsport: The modular structure with its monocoque bodyshell made of carbon-fibre-
reinforced plastic (CFP) and the appropriate use of magnesium and aluminium not only reduce weight to less than 1,490 kg or 3,285 lb, but also ensure supreme driving precision thanks to the very high level of torsional stiffness.
Reminiscent of highly successful, legendary racing cars such as the
918 Spyder with its design concept so typical of
The smooth balance of tradition and progress gives the car a powerful stance on the road in its combination of dimensions. Variable aerodynamics typical of
The driver and passenger are not only perfectly embedded in contoured sports bucket seats, but also form part of the co*ckpit with its synthesis of efficient function and ergonomic high-tech operation offering an outlook at the interior architecture we may possibly see in super sports cars of the future. The three free-standing circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed (middle) and energy management (right) would appear to come directly from a racing car in the ‘60s, bearing out that unique philosophy of driver orientation so characteristic of
The centre console rising up towards the front in the 918 Spyder houses a touch-sensitive surface for intuitive control of the car’s functions, serving consistently to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.
The control units relevant to the driver are concentrated in particular on the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes, again so typical of
The 918 Spyder also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance. In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.
Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.
Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long electric range, the
GO
Please note: Images of the 918 Spyder are available to accredited journalists in the
3/2/2010
Further information and pictures for journalists and media representatives can be found on the
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
The search results indicate that the article is about the Porsche 918 Spyder, a high-performance concept sports car with a plug-in hybrid drive. The car combines high-tech racing features with electro-mobility, offering both impressive performance and low emissions. It was presented by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive that made their world debut at the event. The car features a high-speed V8 engine, electric motors on the front and rear axle, and a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery. It offers different running modes, including an E-Drive mode for electric power alone, a Hybrid mode that uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine, a Sport Hybrid mode that focuses on performance, and a Race Hybrid mode for pure performance on the track. The lightweight body structure of the 918 Spyder is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP), magnesium, and aluminum, ensuring both low weight and high torsional stiffness. The design of the car combines racing car dimensions with a balanced and innovative aesthetic. The interior features contoured sports bucket seats, a co*ckpit with efficient function and ergonomic high-tech operation, and a touch-sensitive surface for intuitive control of the car's functions. The 918 Spyder also offers innovative features such as the Range Manager, which presents the remaining range the car is able to cover based on the chosen power and performance settings. Overall, the Porsche 918 Spyder represents a milestone in Porsche's strategy towards electro-mobility [[1]] [[2]] [[3]] [[4]].
