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2011 Porsche 918 Spyder Front angle

The Porsche 918 Spyder (known internally as Project XG10) is a mid-engined conceptsports car designed by Porsche and first shown at the 80th edition of the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. It is the first plug-in hybrid car from Porsche.

The 3.4 litre V8 engine (500 hp/370 kW) is a development of the engine used in the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype racing car. This is supplemented by three electric motors delivering an additional 218 horsepower (163 kW). The transmission is a 7-speed gearbox coupled to Porsche’s own (PDK) double clutch system delivering power to the rear axle. Two electric motors drive the front wheels directly through a fixed ratio while a third electric motor is connected to the transmission and gives additional power to the rear wheels. This gives the 918 Spyder a 0–100 km/h time in just under 3.2 seconds and a top speed of over 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph). The energy storage system is a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. In addition to the plug-in recharge the batteries can also be charged by regenerative braking and by excess output from the engine when the car is coasting. CO2 emissions are 70 g/km and fuel consumption is 3 L/100 km (94 imperial mpg/78 us mpg). The 918 Spyder offers 4 different running modes: E-Drive allows the car to run under battery power alone, using the rear electric motor only, giving a range of 16 miles (26 km). Three hybrid modes (Hybrid, Sport and Race) use both the engine and electric motors to provide the desired levels of economy and performance. In Race mode a push-to-pass button is available to deliver additional electrical power.

The chassis is a carbon-fibre-reinforced plasticmonocoque. Magnesium and aluminium are extensively used in the construction of the car which helps keep the 918 Spyder’s weight down to 1,490 kilograms (3,300 lb).

On July 28, 2010, after 2000 declarations of interest, the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, gave the green light for series development of the Porsche 918 Spyder.The 918 will be produced in a limited series. It will be developed in Weissach and assembled in Zuffenhausen.

The Porsche 918 spyder is featured in the game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit as a drivable vehicle. Unlike the other Porsche cars featured in the game, it is not available in a police version.

Porsche 918 RSR

2011 Porsche 918 RSR in Detroit AutoS howAt the NAIAS 2011, Porsche unveiled the RSR racing variant of the 918 Spyder. Instead of being a plug-in hybrid, the RSR is powered by a 563 horsepower gasoline V8 engine driving the rear wheels, with dual electric motors driving the front. Power to the electric motors is provided by a flywheel accumulator KERS system that sits beside the driver in the passenger compartment and boosts the total power to 767 horsepower for up to eight seconds when fully charged.