2014 Porsche 918 Spyder Prototypes Begin Testing
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That at least seems to be the theory at Porsche these days in regards to its new flagship sports car. Rather than let details leak out and spy photos appear online the German sports car maker is controlling the flow of info and pictures when it comes to the highly anticipated 918 Spyder.
After released a smattering of info back in March, Porsche has now released a selection of new photos with the official announcement that (duh!) first testing of the prototypes has commenced.
Porsche has confirmed that the project is going according to plan and that the 918 Spyder will begin production in September of 2013 with the first cars being delivered to owners before the year is out.
According to Porsche, “The initial results of the driving trials are in line with the high expectations placed on the 918 Spyder.” That’s saying a lot as the 918 Spyder looks to be a revolutionary product for the brand, using a plug-in hybrid system with a mid-mounted gasoline V8 engine as well as two electric motors – one driving the front wheels and one acting on the rear wheels. Porsche claims power output will exceed 770 hp, while fuel consumption will hit 74 mpg.
Other performance and technology features include a full carbon fiber monocoque, adaptive rear steering, adaptive aerodynamics an even an interesting “top pipes” system, with the exhaust tips pointing upwards.
See the full gallery of 918 Spyder prototypes below, painted in camo that mimics the historical Porsche 917 race cars.
GALLERY:Porsche 918 Spyder Prototype
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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