Porsche 918 Spyder in Action - Video by Road & Track
#1
08-15-2010, 06:01 PM
Porsche 918 Spyder in Action - Video by Road & Track YouTube - Porsche 918 Spyder in Action
"Performance meets ecology. Its Project Leader shares fascinating details of this hybrid supercar. Plus, we hear it fire it up and see it run for the first time."
Introduced at this spring’s Geneva show, the 918 Spyder was driven in the Carmel Valley by Porsche’s head of design Michael Mauer, who had previously clued us in on the car’s styling cues, both with Porsches in general as well as the fabled 917 competition car. Also around for chats was Dr. Gernot Döllner, project leader for the car. Dr. Döllner shared technical details I hadn’t heard about the 918’s hybrid specialities. In particular, it’s quite different from the Cayenne Hybrid’s “Honda-IMA-with-a-clutch” approach; this latter, essentially an engine/clutch/electric motor/clutch/gearbox all in a line. (The Infiniti M Hybrid employs a similar layout.)
By contrast, the 918’s 500-bhp mid-mounted V-8 is coupled to a twin-clutch gearbox, with one of the hybrid’s two electric motors augmenting this gearbox’s rear drive through a separately clutched offset linkage; the other electric motor feeds power only to the front wheels. In hybrid mode, a full 718 horsepower is available.
The 918 Spyder is a plug-in, its lithium-ion battery pack being chargeable from a remote electrical socket. As Dr. Döllner explained, a rotary control to the lower right of the steering wheel selects four different modes of operation: Electric, Hybrid, Sport and Race. Electric, of course, is the quietest, eerie in its Jetsons-like hum. Hybrid is the most economical, having met the magic European “3 liters/100 km” mark on its city cycle. Though this test cycle is somewhat less aggressive (and thus better for hybrids) than our EPA City evaluation, the 918’s equivalent of 78 mpg U.S. is astounding in light of its expected 0-to-60-mph time of 3.2 seconds and 198-mph top speed. These latter two, mind, would evidently come in Sport or Race mode.
The rest of the 918 Spyder’s control layout is both 21st century and yet also traditional Porsche-logical. A steering wheel switch on the left spoke toggles through longitudinal information, speed, distance, etc., visible in the left binnacle. A corresponding switch on the right toggles propulsion information in the right binnacle. An engine tachometer resides in the center. A free-standing buttonless center console pays ergonomic homage to the iPod in the rationality of its touch-panel control scheme for heat/ac and the like.
True, at the moment the 918 Spyder is only a show car, one that motivates but is still in early stages of development. As shown by these details, though, and confirmed by the company, it is producible and will be produced. I won’t speculate on when and how much, simply because Porsche says it’s too early to say for sure. But it’s clear that this 918 Spyder is going to revolutionize the word “hybrid.” Being as I’ve long been a hybrid enthusiast, I can’t wait to drive it!
Source [Road & Track]
Previously posted video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f4phgrpeR8
"Performance meets ecology. Its Project Leader shares fascinating details of this hybrid supercar. Plus, we hear it fire it up and see it run for the first time."
Introduced at this spring’s Geneva show, the 918 Spyder was driven in the Carmel Valley by Porsche’s head of design Michael Mauer, who had previously clued us in on the car’s styling cues, both with Porsches in general as well as the fabled 917 competition car. Also around for chats was Dr. Gernot Döllner, project leader for the car. Dr. Döllner shared technical details I hadn’t heard about the 918’s hybrid specialities. In particular, it’s quite different from the Cayenne Hybrid’s “Honda-IMA-with-a-clutch” approach; this latter, essentially an engine/clutch/electric motor/clutch/gearbox all in a line. (The Infiniti M Hybrid employs a similar layout.)
By contrast, the 918’s 500-bhp mid-mounted V-8 is coupled to a twin-clutch gearbox, with one of the hybrid’s two electric motors augmenting this gearbox’s rear drive through a separately clutched offset linkage; the other electric motor feeds power only to the front wheels. In hybrid mode, a full 718 horsepower is available.
The 918 Spyder is a plug-in, its lithium-ion battery pack being chargeable from a remote electrical socket. As Dr. Döllner explained, a rotary control to the lower right of the steering wheel selects four different modes of operation: Electric, Hybrid, Sport and Race. Electric, of course, is the quietest, eerie in its Jetsons-like hum. Hybrid is the most economical, having met the magic European “3 liters/100 km” mark on its city cycle. Though this test cycle is somewhat less aggressive (and thus better for hybrids) than our EPA City evaluation, the 918’s equivalent of 78 mpg U.S. is astounding in light of its expected 0-to-60-mph time of 3.2 seconds and 198-mph top speed. These latter two, mind, would evidently come in Sport or Race mode.
The rest of the 918 Spyder’s control layout is both 21st century and yet also traditional Porsche-logical. A steering wheel switch on the left spoke toggles through longitudinal information, speed, distance, etc., visible in the left binnacle. A corresponding switch on the right toggles propulsion information in the right binnacle. An engine tachometer resides in the center. A free-standing buttonless center console pays ergonomic homage to the iPod in the rationality of its touch-panel control scheme for heat/ac and the like.
True, at the moment the 918 Spyder is only a show car, one that motivates but is still in early stages of development. As shown by these details, though, and confirmed by the company, it is producible and will be produced. I won’t speculate on when and how much, simply because Porsche says it’s too early to say for sure. But it’s clear that this 918 Spyder is going to revolutionize the word “hybrid.” Being as I’ve long been a hybrid enthusiast, I can’t wait to drive it!
Source [Road & Track]
Previously posted video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f4phgrpeR8
#2
08-15-2010, 06:06 PM
"The new Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept showed up at Pebble
Beach during the 2010 Concours d'Elegance."
YouTube - Porsche 918 Sypder Hybrid at Pebble Beach
Another great little clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnp4HtSEjKI
Beach during the 2010 Concours d'Elegance."
YouTube - Porsche 918 Sypder Hybrid at Pebble Beach
Another great little clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnp4HtSEjKI
#5
08-15-2010, 06:09 PM
This past Thursday, the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid made its driving debut on
a closed road in Monterey California, just days prior to its appearance at
the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
After being shipped over from Germany by plane, engineers handed the keys of
the new 918 Spyder Hybrid to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car
drove under its own power which comes from the mid mounted 3.4 liter V8 out
of the RS Spyder as well as in all electric mode which powers just the front
wheels.
YouTube - Porsche 918 Spyder Concept exclusive driving footage
a closed road in Monterey California, just days prior to its appearance at
the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
After being shipped over from Germany by plane, engineers handed the keys of
the new 918 Spyder Hybrid to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car
drove under its own power which comes from the mid mounted 3.4 liter V8 out
of the RS Spyder as well as in all electric mode which powers just the front
wheels.
YouTube - Porsche 918 Spyder Concept exclusive driving footage
