918

[Gob]

Porsche 918 Spyder



Off in the distance, the Porsche 918 Spyder rounds a bend and spears toward us, pursued by the chilling high pitched scream of its advanced petrol-electric driveline at full song. From the pit wall, its distinctive LED headlamps, housing four individual elements in each assembly left and right, gives it menacing look. It flashes by with great determination, baring a somewhat familiar and largely unadorned profile. Then it arcs into the turn at the end of the straight, revealing a sizeable rear wing that is extended well out from the rear body work, before disappearing from view.

I’ve travelled to Porsche’s Leipzig test track in Germany to become one of the first people outside the close knit team of team of engineers on hand to drive the multifaceted 918 Spyder – a car credited with ushering in a new age of four-wheel-drive hybrid hypercars, a class whose ranks will also soon be strengthened by the similarly conceived Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1.

The sight and sound of the low slung two-seater being wrung out by German rally legend Walter Rohrl quickly makes the trip worthwhile. But it is the knowledge that I’m also set to drive the new two-seater, the first example of which is due to be delivered in September. To be produced exclusively in left-hand drive guise, the 918 Spyder is priced at €768,026 ($1 million), rising to €839,426 ($1.1 million) with the optional Weissach performance package, which brings a range of lightweight components that reduce its weight by a 40kg as well as various aerodynamic parts.

Any Australian enthusiasts looking to bring a 918 here would also be slugged with the controversial luxury car tax, GST and import duties that would see the price exceed $1.5 million.

It seems an impossible task given its inherent complexity, but the new Porsche has progressed from the 918 Spyder concept to its pre-production form in just two years.

Just how far it has come in this short time can be summed up in one set of figures: 7 minutes 14 seconds. This is the lap time Porsche recorded on the first outing of the 918 Spyder at the Nurburgring in 2012, undercutting the mark of the Carreara GT established back in 2005 by 16 seconds. No wonder Ferrari and McLaren are eyeing the 918 warily.

On sale: Never; the 918 will only be produced in left-hand drive

Price: Upwards of $1.5 million

Drivetrain: 4.6-litre V8, two brushless electric motors (one front, one rear)

Power: 661kW (total system power), 447kW (V8), 115kW (front electric motor), 95kW (rear electric motor)

Torque: 1275Nm (total system power), 530Nm (V8)

0-100km/h: 2.8 seconds

0-200km/h: 7.9 seconds

0-300km/h: 23.0 seconds

Top speed: “more than 340km/h” (150km/h on electric power alone)

Electric range: 25km

[dales]

OUTTASIGHT!

[oldr_n_wsr]

Sorry, no car is worth $1million.
Looks cool though.

[dales]

I agree.

The car (and other corresponding exotics) are marketed to people who view a $million$ as chump change.

If I was going to spend a million on transportation, I'd purchase a private jet aircraft.

I'm a PORSCHE fan, I'll take a nice garden-variety Cayman for under $100 thousand.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I always liked the old 912's.

[dales]

A "poor" man's 911.......the reliabilty and economy of the 356C motor/running gear with the beauty of the 911.

Good choice and they're still around 10-15 grand for decent ones out here in CA.

Here's one for 15 large located in Burlingame (North California)

[Jarlaxle]

For that money...screw the VW-powered thing, I will take a C3 Corvette.

[dales]

Different strokes for different folks, Jarl.

I don't care for Corvettes (except the Blue-Flame Six) and there are many (like you Jarl) who don't like Porsches.

BFD

And ah................FYI.... the original 912 was NOT VW-Powered unlike the much later electronically fuel injected 912E.