Following hot on the heels of Porsche’s confirmation of its all-electric Boxster trials is the news that their spectacular hybrid the 918 Spyder will be developed in limited numbers for road use.
The mid-engined plug-in hybrid has CO2 emissions of just 70g/km with a corresponding fuel consumption of a staggering 94.1mpg.
The 918 Spyder concept was originally seen at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and due to the enthusiastic response that the car received, the Board at Porsche has now decided to develop a production road version, albeit in limited numbers.
Michael Macht, President and Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG, said; “Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts. We will develop the 918 Spyder in Weissach and assemble it in Zuffenhausen. This is also a very important commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base.”
What we know about the 918 Spyder concept is that open topped two seater features a 3.4 litre V8 engine along with electric motors positioned on both the front and rear axles. With power transmitted by a seven-speed PDK double clutch transmission the car can run purely in E-Drive (solely using the electric motors) for up to 16 miles, yet has the kind of supercar performance expected from Porsche.
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.
