Porsche 918 Spyder Detailed in Production Form

Porsche has finally divulged all of the specs and information on the production-ready version of its 918 Spyder supercar, along with a gallery of photos showing the car in its production form.

This car was designed from the ground up specifically to house the brand’s plug-in hybrid drive system. That electric system, comprised of two electric motors with lithium-ion batteries, combined with a mid-mounted 4.6-liter V8 make 887 hp, hustling the car to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. The engine is mated to Porsche’s dual-clutch seven-speed transmission Top speed is officially rated at 211 mph.

A monocoque carbon fiber shell serves as the entire load-bearing structure, and is one of the major influences in the car’s 1,640 kg (3615 lbs) unladen weight. To help the lightweight car handle, the 918 uses an adaptive shock absorber system and rear-axle steering. That rear-axle steering system adjusts depending on the speeds of the car. At low the speeds, the rear wheels will turn in the opposite direction as the fronts, while at high speeds all four wheel will turn together.

Five different drive modes will available with the 918: E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid and Hot Lap. Each mode affects not only the drivetrain, but also the attack angle of the rear wing and the adjustable air intakes.

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E-Power mode does its best to keep the car operating on just electricity, which Porsche says will propel the 918 about 18 miles. Hybrid mode lets all of the motors work in conjunction with one another to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Sport Hybrid mode keeps the gasoline engine engaged at all times, while using the hybrid system for boost in certain situations.

Lastly, there is two different race modes, Race Hybrid and Hot Lap. Race Hybrid activates the highest level of 918 performance, using the gas engine as its sole power source, and only charging the electric motors when the car isn’t under full load. The stored up electric boost is also only used at max power for shorter periods of time compared to Sport Hybrid Mode. While in Race Hybrid mode, you can activate Hot Lap, which pushes the traction battery to its maximum power output limits for just a few laps.

For customers who want the best out of their 918, there is the optional Weissach Package, which adds special colors and design along with carbon fiber parts. Weight reduction is a priority for the Weissach package, which manages to shave off about 35 kg (77 lb).

The Porsche 918 Spyder will compete with the like of the Ferrari LaFerrari and Mclaren P1, both of which also use a hybrid drivetrain.