918 Spyder prototypes commence trials
Stuttgart. The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche
AG, Stuttgart, has taken the driving trials of the super sports car of the
future a step further with completion of the initial prototypes. The 918 Spyder
will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first
customers receiving their vehicles before 2013 is out. "What we are doing with
the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance," said
Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche
AG.
The prototypes, their camouflage harking back to historical Porsche 917
racing cars, signal the final touches to the 918 Spyder. The focus is on the
interplay between the highly sophisticated individual drive components. The
combination of combustion engine and two independent electric motors - one on
the front axle and one in the drive line, acting on the rear wheels - poses
completely new demands on the development of the operating strategies. "They are
therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our
expertise and capacity for innovation," said Wolfgang Hatz. These operating
strategies and the development of the software to go with them are one of
Porsche's core competences. Both of them have a major influence on the extreme
driving fun to be had with the 918 Spyder and they make possible a unique
combination of minimal fuel consumption and maximum performance. The initial
results of the driving trials are in line with the high expectations placed on
the 918 Spyder.
The super sports car is designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a
high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for
extraordinary performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a racing machine
boasting more than 770 hp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the region of
three litres per 100 kilometres. Moreover, Porsche is breaking yet more new
ground with the technology demonstrator with spectacular solutions such as the
full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque with unit carrier, fully
adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and the upward-venting "top
pipes" exhaust system. In the process, the 918 Spyder is offering a glimpse of
what Porsche Intelligent Performance may be capable of in future.
