Porsche 918 Spyder: thumbs up

Porsche’s hybrid Carrera GT successor gets green light for limited production

29 July 2010

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Porsche 918 Spyder

If you squealed with delight when Porsche revealed its 918 Spyder, get ready to squeal some more - it's going into production.

Porsche CEO Michael Macht was yesterday ‘given the mission' to produce a limited production run of the 918 concept which shocked audiences at Geneva; a mission we have classified as being ‘ruddy impossible'.

Ferrari 599 GTO vs Porsche 918 Spyder - pics and details

This is largely because the Porsche 918 Spyder is a hybrid supercar capable of doling out a 0-62mph time of 3.2 secs, a top speed of 200mph, a scorching Nurburgring lap time of 7m 30s (faster than a Carrera GT) - and 94.1mpg.

What's more, this super-efficient super-fast Porker can emit as little as 70g/km of CO2. Stats good enough to delight environmentally-concerned speed-merchants to ‘persuade' Porsche to build the thing. Quickly.

So how can something which looks this good go so fast and simultaneously repopulate endangered African monkeys and seal the ozone layer?

Three electric motors with 218bhp and a 3.4-litre 500bhp racing V8 equals scary and serious in a single Germanic stroke. Couple this drivetrain with a lightweight monocoque bodyshell and efficient aerodynamics, and you get a crisis-inducing supercar.

We had a close peek at this hybrid monster and the fastest Ferrari ever, and got very excited indeed. Are you?

Vijay Pattni

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