Porsche 918 Spyder
The ultimate green supercar
Porsche 918 Spyder: Ultimate Green Supercar
Courtesy Porsche Cars North America
The future of the car will be electrified, and the Porsche 918 Spyder concept shows just how much fun it will be. In this mid-engine supercar’s current configuration, a 3.4-liter racing V8 shares propulsion duty with three electric motors that produce a combined 218 horsepower. Together, all four powerplants create 718 horsepower and catapult the Spyder from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph—but if you don’t floor it, the Porsche can deliver up to 78 mpg. In E-Drive mode, the electric motors alone propel the vehicle. Three different hybrid modes allow you to choose between varying degrees of efficiency and performance.
In the unlikely event you need more power, the “E Boost” button will send a seven-second blast of current to the electric motors. Nearly 2,000 people have already signed letters of intent to buy a Spyder, and the automaker is developing it for sale, though it’s not clear when the estimated half-million-dollar car will appear on streets. In the meantime, the Spyder is already serving as a testbed for technology that will trickle down to the rest of us. Price not set.
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Another hybrid for the rich only.
How can they say this is a "green" car... A hybrid with a V8 is not "green" to me, no matter the manufacturer. It just doesn't make any sense (though I would love to own one just for the performances!!!).
@ Mudmax:
I disagree. It is an enthusiast hybrid. Just as Tesla could make a little econobox instead of the tesla roadster, porsche has decided to make a hybrid for sportscar fans. It will make motorsports enthusiast a little greener. It is the process of adapting green technology to people's driving habits that they are unwilling to let go of. think of it as a compromise.
This car will be able to adjust to a lot of people's driving habits. You could putt along through the city in electric only mode and then use the real power only when it is really wanted, when the right road comes along. A lot of the boost will also come from regen braking also helping boost efficiency.
It's about marketing.
Until the Tesla Roadster came along, electric cars weren't sexy.
If you want a mass adoption of a technology it has to be desired by the masses... the masses do not want to drive an ugly EV-1 even if they could afford it.
However... the masses drool for an electric roadster.
The point of these cars "for the rich" is to make the poor masses salivate at the thought of "electric car" instead of recoiling in disgust as they currently do.
Hybrid cars are horrible to the environment. The foot print of manufacture is tremendous compared to the carbon emissions of a gas powered car. The only way it's better is it hurts your pocket less at the pump and government gives tax breaks to people who buy them. If you want to be "green" and own a car buy a little 4 cylinder, keep it tuned up, and drive it economically.
That being said this car doesn't have a reason to exist. It's a supercar from a manufacturer that's specialty is handling. All those batteries and what not add weight compared to the non hybrid version of this car plus soft tops weigh more because of all the structural redesigning the engineers have to do to keep the car stiff. I'm guessing it'll be a bit of a pig. Anyone who can afford one isn't worried about gas prices.
As with all newer technologies, they are more expensive as they are first developed. Like the television and the first automobiles. The automobile has made vast improvements, but the Spyder was probably never intended to be the forerunner for any car made for the average driver. I have to agree with Marshall82, this car is meant to be bought by those are performance enthusiasts. I think it is too bad that the great technology in hybrids is being wasted because of a view that gasoline engines and burning fuels are terrible for the environment. It seems that in trying to get away from gasoline for electric motors and batteries the prices have been pushed way up. But still a Porsche is going to be expensive no matter what it is.
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS FOR THE AVERAGE MILES PER CHARGE!
BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR THAT IN WHICH RECHARGING IS INSTANTANEOUS AS WELL AS ALMOST FREE!!
THIS IS NOT GIMIC!! I AM REALLY LOOKING FOR LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE CONCEPT AND THE IDEA. IS THERE ANY ONE WHO COULD PROVIDE ME WITH THAT? ESPECIALLY BIG AGENCY OR MANUFACTURERS??
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