The all new and much-anticipated Porsche 918 Spyder is getting some some new renderings Priced at around 645,000 euros plus taxes, which equates to around £670,000 in the UK. The 918 Spyder will be the most expensive Porsche ever — albeit still significantly cheaper than the new Pagani Huayra and Aston Martin One-77.
The performance promises to be outrageous. The hybrid-assisted powertrain, which consists of a 500bhp-plus V8 and two electric motors that between them deliver around 218bhp, promise to take the 918 Spyder from 0 to 62mph in a claimed 3.2sec. Porsche has targeted a lap time at the Nurburgring Nordschleife of less than 7min 30sec. A top speed of 94mph on electric power is also quoted. Amusingly, this will also be the greenest Porsche ever.
Delivering 94mpg and whispering out just 70g/km, the 9l8 Spyder will be road tax exempt in the UK. Whereas other supercars in the top road tax band currently attract an annual fee of £435. Looked at it this way, the 918 Spyder could pay for itself in just 1500 years…
The production version of the 9l8 Spyder will use Porsche’s PDK twin-clutch gearbox. Variable four-wheel drive is promised, thanks to the two electric motors (one each on the front and rear axles), while the mid-mounted V8 provides old-school, high-revving thrills.
The lithium-ion battery pack is liquid-cooled and can be charged from a domestic power socket in three hours, while a quick charge option is also planned. A range in excess of 16 miles is promised on electric power alone.
The styling is virtually identical to the concept shown at the 20l0 Geneva motor show, except for the appearance of a removable roof, which consists of two panels that can be stowed in the front luggage compartment. The carbon fiber reinforced plastic monocoque remains.
Production of the 918 Spyder is scheduled to begin on September 18, 2013, at the main Porsche factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Deliveries will commence in November 2013 and just 918 examples will be built.
911 Edition Spyder 918
Every customer ordering a 918 Spyder is being offered the chance to buy a 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder.
Not available to non-918 Spyder customers, this special 911 gets 918 styling touches including acid green details and carbon flashes. The engine is the same 5Z3bhp twin- turbo flat-six found in the standard Turbo S. Deliveries start in June, with the coupe costing £125,865 in the UK and the Cabriolet at £133,553.
