The Porsche 918 Spyder is only a concept, so its claims need to be taken with a degree of skepticism, but the specifications out of this car seem too good to be true.
Imagine zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. Laps times at Nurburgring in a faster lap time than a Carrera GT. Top speed of 198 mph. And most amazing, fuel economy of 78 miles per gallon.
It is the first of three Porsche hybrids being introduced at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Along with the Cayenne S hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive and the 911 GT3 R hybrid race car, the 918 shows that Porsche believes that performance and fuel frugality can peacefully coexist.
The 918 combines an electric drive with a high-revving V-8 engine:
It has a seven-speed transmission. The electric power flows from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery.
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different modes, Porsche says:
* It can run in E-Drive mode on electric power alone for 16 miles.
* As a hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the V-8 together.
* The sport hybrid mode uses both as well, only in a more aggressive performance manner.
* The race hybrid is about pure performance.
The body is made of carbon fiber, with liberal use of magnesium and aluminum to reduce weight and increase stiffness.
Inside, the driver monitors the powerplant from three dials: speed, revolutions and "energy management." Much of the car's functions are controlled from a touch-screen.
Source: USA Today
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