An In-depth look at Porsche's ambitious 918 Spyder
08-24-10, 09:07 AM
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An In-depth look at Porsche's ambitious 918 Spyder
Feature: An in-depth look at Porsche's ambitious 918 Spyder
Sympatico takes a look inside Porsche’s ambitious hybrid sports car
August 20th 2010, by Sympatico.ca
CARMEL, CA – The Porsche 918 Spyder concept was driven for the first time in North America on Friday, the 13th of August – an ominous date maybe, but we still couldn’t scare up any hints from Porsche when a production version of the hybrid supercar will actually hit Canadian streets.
Indeed, the first words heard at a media presentation the night before were, “Please don’t ask the price, or when this car is coming out. What we can confirm is [that] this car will be produced.”
At the Geneva Auto Show early this year, though, then-CEO, Michael Macht, allowed that production could be only two years away. Think of 2013 as a likely target date as Porsche rushes the car’s development to maximize the impact of its hybrid technology. And given that the Carrera GT, Porsche’s previous supercar, sold for $440,000 U.S, speculation has this more complex attention-getter commanding $600,000 or more.
As for Mauer’s demo drive, the car sounded great. The bark from its side-emerging exhaust pipes was arresting, even at perhaps 60 km/h.
What else was certain, from interviews with Mauer and Dr. Gernot Dollner, the 918 Spyder project leader, is that much work remains before any Porschephile gets to drive this car.
One example was Mauer’s frank response when asked how much luggage space exists beneath the Spyder’s sculpted hood that sweeps back to the extremely low cowl: “Unfortunately, at present none,” he told us. “This area is full of batteries and electrical components. The reduction of these components is moving along quite quickly.”
Dollner may have been addressing the same issue, speaking after the demo drive. “The biggest challenge concerning the powertrain is how many electric motors are used in the car,” he said. “Now we have two in the front, one in the rear, but I think we’ll end up with only one in the front – due to weight.”
And making room for luggage as well, undoubtedly.
Dollner allowed that the 918 Spyder is “a little heavier,” than its Carrera GT predecessor, which weighed in at 1,380 kg, “…but this is due to the hybrid components that add more performance. Our goal is for the car to accelerate to 100 km/h in less than 3.2 seconds, and to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife faster than the seven minutes, 30 seconds we achieved in the Carrera GT.”
The car’s gasoline engine is derived from the 3.4-litre V8 that powered the Le Mans Series RS Spyder race car. It’s rated at “more than 500,” horsepower with the electric motors contributing the equivalent of another 218 hp, for a top speed estimated at 325 km/h.
The transmission is a seven-speed double-clutch, similar to so called PDK offered in the 911 Carrera, “and we are in discussion with various suppliers,” Dollner said, suggesting details remain to be finalized.
Design chief Mauer got the honor of demonstrating his rolling sculpture on a private road in the high country above Monterey’s Quail golf course. But Dollner, in his development work gets to drive the car on Porsche’s test track at Weissach, Germany.
“You won’t believe it, how it’s so exciting combining the V8 and the electric motors from the first moment at the wheel,” he said of the powertrain’s combined torque, of course without stating exactly how much torque is on tap.
Porsche does make much of its environmental achievements. A consumption rating of just 3.0 L/100 km, carbon dioxide rating of 70 grams per 100 km, and the capability of driving up to 25 km in electric mode with no emissions, are boasts not associated with manufacturers of performance vehicles.
Electric mode is but one of four possibilities selectable from the steering wheel. Dollner referred to Hybrid as being the most efficient mode, Sport as the choice for spirited driving on public roads, and Race for private tracks, “where everything is about lap times, this will give you extra boost.”
A team of 45-50 engineers has been assigned to the 918 Spyder, with more to be added as the project continues toward production. For instance, computer-simulated crash tests began only two weeks ago. Given the early stage of its development, both progress and setbacks are to be expected.
“The rearview cameras unfortunately are not going to be brought into production,” design chief Mauer said. “It was a good idea with a camera mounted low in the rear diffuser as well as the two on the windshield posts, providing a really clear view of what is behind the car.”
Then there is the not inconsequential matter of needing a roof. “As a concept car it didn’t really need a roof, but we must design one now,” said Dollner. “It will be removable and will need to be a carbon composite similar to that of the Carrera GT.”
Mauer, the big picture guy, the imagineer behind the concept, told us how the car took form. “As the start when we discussed our mission, it was to create a vision for the future for sports cars. . . You always start with proportions. You could say this car in its proportions is most related to our ALMS competition car – a low centre of gravity, the driver low, the fenders high. And always the most important, the car must be recognized at a glance as a Porsche.”
Mission accomplished. Actually building the vision, though, now becomes the task at hand.
link: http://autos.sympatico.ca/features/5...ous-918-spyder
Sympatico takes a look inside Porsche’s ambitious hybrid sports car
August 20th 2010, by Sympatico.ca
CARMEL, CA – The Porsche 918 Spyder concept was driven for the first time in North America on Friday, the 13th of August – an ominous date maybe, but we still couldn’t scare up any hints from Porsche when a production version of the hybrid supercar will actually hit Canadian streets.
Indeed, the first words heard at a media presentation the night before were, “Please don’t ask the price, or when this car is coming out. What we can confirm is [that] this car will be produced.”
At the Geneva Auto Show early this year, though, then-CEO, Michael Macht, allowed that production could be only two years away. Think of 2013 as a likely target date as Porsche rushes the car’s development to maximize the impact of its hybrid technology. And given that the Carrera GT, Porsche’s previous supercar, sold for $440,000 U.S, speculation has this more complex attention-getter commanding $600,000 or more.
As for Mauer’s demo drive, the car sounded great. The bark from its side-emerging exhaust pipes was arresting, even at perhaps 60 km/h.
What else was certain, from interviews with Mauer and Dr. Gernot Dollner, the 918 Spyder project leader, is that much work remains before any Porschephile gets to drive this car.
One example was Mauer’s frank response when asked how much luggage space exists beneath the Spyder’s sculpted hood that sweeps back to the extremely low cowl: “Unfortunately, at present none,” he told us. “This area is full of batteries and electrical components. The reduction of these components is moving along quite quickly.”
Dollner may have been addressing the same issue, speaking after the demo drive. “The biggest challenge concerning the powertrain is how many electric motors are used in the car,” he said. “Now we have two in the front, one in the rear, but I think we’ll end up with only one in the front – due to weight.”
And making room for luggage as well, undoubtedly.
Dollner allowed that the 918 Spyder is “a little heavier,” than its Carrera GT predecessor, which weighed in at 1,380 kg, “…but this is due to the hybrid components that add more performance. Our goal is for the car to accelerate to 100 km/h in less than 3.2 seconds, and to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife faster than the seven minutes, 30 seconds we achieved in the Carrera GT.”
The car’s gasoline engine is derived from the 3.4-litre V8 that powered the Le Mans Series RS Spyder race car. It’s rated at “more than 500,” horsepower with the electric motors contributing the equivalent of another 218 hp, for a top speed estimated at 325 km/h.
The transmission is a seven-speed double-clutch, similar to so called PDK offered in the 911 Carrera, “and we are in discussion with various suppliers,” Dollner said, suggesting details remain to be finalized.
Design chief Mauer got the honor of demonstrating his rolling sculpture on a private road in the high country above Monterey’s Quail golf course. But Dollner, in his development work gets to drive the car on Porsche’s test track at Weissach, Germany.
“You won’t believe it, how it’s so exciting combining the V8 and the electric motors from the first moment at the wheel,” he said of the powertrain’s combined torque, of course without stating exactly how much torque is on tap.
Porsche does make much of its environmental achievements. A consumption rating of just 3.0 L/100 km, carbon dioxide rating of 70 grams per 100 km, and the capability of driving up to 25 km in electric mode with no emissions, are boasts not associated with manufacturers of performance vehicles.
Electric mode is but one of four possibilities selectable from the steering wheel. Dollner referred to Hybrid as being the most efficient mode, Sport as the choice for spirited driving on public roads, and Race for private tracks, “where everything is about lap times, this will give you extra boost.”
A team of 45-50 engineers has been assigned to the 918 Spyder, with more to be added as the project continues toward production. For instance, computer-simulated crash tests began only two weeks ago. Given the early stage of its development, both progress and setbacks are to be expected.
“The rearview cameras unfortunately are not going to be brought into production,” design chief Mauer said. “It was a good idea with a camera mounted low in the rear diffuser as well as the two on the windshield posts, providing a really clear view of what is behind the car.”
Then there is the not inconsequential matter of needing a roof. “As a concept car it didn’t really need a roof, but we must design one now,” said Dollner. “It will be removable and will need to be a carbon composite similar to that of the Carrera GT.”
Mauer, the big picture guy, the imagineer behind the concept, told us how the car took form. “As the start when we discussed our mission, it was to create a vision for the future for sports cars. . . You always start with proportions. You could say this car in its proportions is most related to our ALMS competition car – a low centre of gravity, the driver low, the fenders high. And always the most important, the car must be recognized at a glance as a Porsche.”
Mission accomplished. Actually building the vision, though, now becomes the task at hand.
link: http://autos.sympatico.ca/features/5...ous-918-spyder
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