Spy Shots: Porsche 918 Spyder Snagged Topless, Plus Full-Specs, Turns the 'Ring in Under 7:22

Only a few days after Porsche released an official set of images of the pre-production 918 Spyder, our spies sent in new photos of the plug-in hybrid supercar, this time testing with its top down. 

The new crown jewel of the Porsche lineup features a targa top solution with a pair of detachable carbon fiber roof panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment and a small windowpane located between the flying buttresses. 

The pre-production prototype is finished in a matte black color with white stripes that harks back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars. 

Surprisingly, Porsche is not keeping a lot of secrets from us having revealed initial specifications on the 918 Spyder. The spiritual successor of the 959 from the 1980s, of which only a little over 330 units were produced, and the Carrera GT from the mid-2000s (1,270 built), sports a full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body bolted to a carbon-fiber tub. 

 

What really separates the 918 Spyder from all Porsche models is the plug-in hybrid driveline, which links a mid-mounted, 4.6-liter V8 with more than 570PS (+562hp) and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission driving the rear wheels to a pair of electric motors. 

The first electric motor is rated at 80kW (107hp) and drives the front wheels, while the other delivers 90kW (121hp) and is mounted in the gearbox housing turning the rear wheels. The system's combined output surpasses the 770PS (+762hp) mark. 

The electric motors are powered by a lithium-ion hybrid battery that can be charged in about 2 hours with the use of a compact rapid-charger that will be offered as standard. Naturally, the Porsche hybrid features an energy recuperation system that turns the kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric current when braking.

Porsche claims that the 918 Spyder will be significantly faster than the Carrera GT both in terms of acceleration with a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of less than three seconds (Carrera GT: 3.9 seconds), and also the racing circuit with a lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife of less than 7:22 minutes (Carrera GT: 7:32 minutes). 

 

While we somehow doubt that fuel economy will be a priority for 918 Spyder buyers, truth is, being politically correct and green does matter in our days. 

And Porsche delivers in this department promising a guilt-free average fuel consumption of around 3.0lt/100km (equal to 78.4mpg US or 94.2mpg UK) with the use of the batteries that allow for a pure electric range in excess of 25 kilometers (+16 miles). Of course, to achieve these numbers one will probably have to drive the 918 Spyder like a Prius, but that is another story… 

Porsche also tells us that he top speed on purely electric power is 150 km/h (94 mph), while with the use of the internal combustion engine the 918 Spyder exceeds 325km/h (202mph). 

Other tidbits worth mentioning is that the 918 Spyder will feature five, self-explanatory driving models named E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid and Hot-Lap, the latter for maximum output and speed, as well as the adaptive shock-absorber system PASM and rear-axle steering. 

As we have already mentioned, the styling of the 918 Spyder has not changed much from the 2010 concept sans the new headlamp fixtures, different wheels, the addition of full size exterior mirrors, the subtly redesigned rear end and the relocation of the exhaust pipes from the sides to the top part of the engine compartment. 

Production of the 918 Spyder will commence on September 18, 2013, with first deliveries in November of the same year. 

Porsche plans to keep production strictly limited to 918 units with pricing set at €645,000 (about US$820,500 at today's exchange rates), excluding tax and country-specific charges. For those of you interested, the Stuttgart-based automaker has already opened the order books.

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