Porsche Showcases Gorgeous 78 MPG 918 Spyder Plug-in Hybrid Concept [720 hp, 3.2s 0-60]

DailyTech ^ | March 1, 2010 | Brandon Hill

[wolf78]

Porsche unveiled its new 918 Spyder concept that not only brings sleek styling to the table, but also a wealth of high-tech powertrain goodness. Looking somewhat like a gorgeous mashup up of a Ferrari F430, Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche Boxster, and Porsche 911 GT1, the 918 Spyder concept features a mid-engine layout, seating for two people, and all-wheel drive.

The roadster also features dual side-exiting exhaust pipes on either side of the vehicle along with a nod to the past with an intriguing "disk" wheel design.

Being that this is a Porsche first and foremost, this vehicle is all about performance. Gone is the flat-6 that powers the mid-engined Boxster and Cayenne (along with the rear-engined 911) and in its place is a high-revving (9,200 rpm) V8 engine producing 500 hp. As if that wasn't enough, there are also two electric motors installed in the vehicle (one for the front axle, one for the rear axle). The electric motors add another 218 hp to the mix.

[wolf78]

[Celerity]

The electric hybrid system can be a great power-adder. The Honda Insight’s IMA system is like a little turbo.

[Clint N. Suhks]

Awesome! I get a ________ just looking at it.

I’m looking at getting the Mrs a Panamara, waiting till I can find one used.

[BossLady]

!!!!!SOLD!!!!!! ;)

[r9etb]

No, that’s not right. It’s an immutable law of nature that hybrids must be ugly/goofy-looking.

[JohnLongIsland]

Arent’ we entitled to one from the government, along with a garage and an attached house to go with it?

[stephenjohnbanker]

I want an electric Porsche like I want another ex wife.

[truthguy]

Beautiful but totally inpractical car for 99.5% of the public. You have to have more money than God to afford this type of vehicle. Porsches are great if you make $500K a year or perhaps even more.

[Clint N. Suhks]

It’s “green”, I wonder if there’s a tax write-off that comes with it.

[maggief]

LOL!

[GonzoGOP]

Now when going green comes in silver I like it.

[aquila48]

I don’t believe the mpg...

It can go 16 miles on electric charge... After that you’re burning gas. For a long trip the mpg will be the normal 10-15mpg for a car like this.

[papasmurf]

“Gone is the flat-6 that powers the mid-engined Boxster and Cayenne (along with the rear-engined 911)”

You should be jailed for referring to a 911 as though it were an “also ran”, you f’idiot.

356’s and 911’s ARE Porsche.

[fhayek]

Not Guilty!

[JohnLongIsland]

Only if you make under 30Gs a year

[wolf78]

I want an electric Porsche like I want another ex wife.

I actually tend to agree. Although this thing will be faster around the Nuerburgring than a Carrera GT, I'd prefer the GT because it's purer (manual gearbox, just the essentials). I actually don't like the new Ferraris either, to many electronic gizmos. Yeah, they're faster, but to quote Jeremy Clarkson: They're lacking the X factor.

[Jewbacca]

THIS is a Porsche Spyder. Mid-engine, air-cooled. All others are mere vapor.

[mwilli20]

I don’t believe the mpg...

Calculating the MPG of a plug-in anything is like calculating the number of "jobs saved"

[Tzimisce]

Cool.

Now we just need a better economy so someone can afford to buy the car. :)

[elephantlips]

Amen!!!