2010 Geneva Auto Show: Porsche Unveils 918 Spyder Plug-in Hybrid Concept
By Scott Doggett March 1, 2010
Today, on the eve of the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, Porsche unveiled a hybrid that's quicker than the Carrera GT, has a top speed just under 200 mph and achieves an outstanding 78 mpg, so they say.
The 918 Spyder Concept (pictured) can reach 62 mph in less than 3.2 seconds - and what's more it is but one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the Geneva show.
The trio - made up of Porsche's new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery, and the two-seater high-performance 918 Spyder mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology - clearly demonstrates the great bandwidth of this new drive technology.
The 918 Spyder Concept is powered by a high-revving V8 developing more than 500 horsepower and a maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm - as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower.
The V8 combustion engine is the next step in the evolution of the highly successful 3.4-liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned mid-ship, in front of the rear axle, giving the car excellent balance.
Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio.
The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. Because it's a plug-in hybrid, the car's battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. And the car's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes.
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 16 miles.
In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.
The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to additionally improve the car's driving dynamics.
In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the highest standard of driving dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power and dynamic output.
With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.
Porsche says the modular structure with its monocoque bodyshell made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and liberal use of magnesium and aluminum not only reduce weight to below 3,285 pounds, but also ensure supreme driving precision thanks to a high level of torsional stiffness.
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