Porsche sells 919 Hybrid mockup for $100k on eBay

Want to spend $100k on a new Porsche? Your local dealership will gladly sell you a new 911, Panamera, or Cayenne in the right trim level and spec, with all the right boxes ticked. But one buyer in Singapore recently spent that on a Porsche he (or she) couldn't even drive.

The non-functional vehicle in question was a full-scale replica of the 919 Hybrid – just like the ones that just took a one-two finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only this one was based on the 2014 spec that brought Porsche back to the forefront of endurance sportscar racing. Oh, and it has no running gear - electric or conventional.

Porsche made a baker's dozen of these replicas to serve as showpieces and development models where a fully functional example wouldn't be needed. They're seldom sold, but Porsche Asia Pacific was given the green light to auction one off. Proceeds went towards charities helping disadvantaged children and the disabled.

The fortunate collector ended up paying precisely $106,100 – that's in US dollars, not Singapore's – on eBay for the opportunity to put an all but completely authentic 919 Hybrid in his garage. Said collector won't be able to drive it, of course, but unless he was put through the kind of training that Mark Webber and Nico Hülkenberg have been, we doubt it'd be of much use anyway. And that's assuming Porsche were ever convinced to part with one of its high-tech, all conquering prototypes, which it likely won't for many years to come.

Porsche Planning More Hybrids With More Horsepower

Among the first players in the performance hybrid space was Porsche, and you can expect more hybrids with more horsepower in the coming years. The automaker is keen to use its e-hybrid technology to boost performance of models like the Panamera Turbo S and Porsche 911 Turbo S, both of which will wear the e-hybrid badge and make more than 700 horsepower.

The hybrid technology will trickle down from the $845,000 Porsche 918 Spyder into more “affordable” models like the 911 and Panamera, though the hybrid part won’t stop there. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S could also benefit from hybridization, though there is concern that there may be too much variation in Porsche’s lineup. Could the e-hybrid even replace the Turbo badge? That seems possible, as Porsche has been one of the biggest proponents of hybrid car performance, and there’s even the possibility of a pure-electric Porsche somewhere down the road.

From the sounds of it, every Porsche model will soon be offered as a hybrid, and there’s always the possibility of more hybrid-only models, as well as a hybrid version of the new Porsche turbo I4. Unfortunately, a Boxer four-cylinder seems off the table, but a 400 horsepower Porsche hybrid four-banger with 400+ horsepower? Sounds better to me anyways.

More Porsche hybrid powah. I hope other automakers are paying attention.

Source: Motor Trend

The Cutting Edge Technology Of the Porsche 918 Spyder - VIDEO

A lot of ink has been spilled over the Porsche 918 Spyder, which is exactly the point of the $845,000 hybrid supercar. Porsche may only sell a small handful of the 887 horsepower hybrid, but the technology and research that went into this car will trickle down into “lesser” models. This brief video shows some of that technology in action.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid with four driving modes, two electric motors, and a 4.6 liter mid-mounted V8 engine. E-Drive is an all-electric mode primarily for city driving, with a range of up to 20 miles and a top speed of only 93 mph.

There are also three different “hybrid” modes (Hybrid, Sport, and Race) that use varying degrees of power from both the V8 engine and two electric motors. Hybrid mode is obviously on the more fuel-frugal end, with the engine and electric motors working to optimize fuel economy. Meanwhile Race mode is reserved for on-track shenanigans, with a special sub-mode called “Hot Lap” which unleashes the full fury of the 918 Spyder, with the electric motors providing even more of a power boost.

The 918 Spyder also has regenerative braking and a carbon fiber-reinforced monocoque for a curb weight of just over 3,600 pounds. But really, it’s all about the cutting edge drivetrain, and while it may remain prohibitively expensive for now, there’s no doubt Porsche is working to bring more economy-minded plug-in hybrids to the roads. The 918 Spyder is merely leading the way.

Source: Gas2.0

Wanna Make Two Statements at Once? Plunk Down $900 Grand for the 500 HP Plug-In Hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder

The latest rendering of Porsche’s plug-in hybrid 918 Spyder super sports car. Click to enlarge.

Porsche has begun taking orders for the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid drive super sports car, first debuted as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, even as production development proceeds.

The 918 Spyder is estimated to consume 3.0 L/100 km (78 mpg US) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) (ECE-R 101), equating to CO₂ emissions of 70 g/km (112 g/mile). All-electric range is approximately 25 km (16 miles) in the NEDC. EPA fuel economy figures or estimates will be announced just before the first customer cars begin arriving in the United States near the end of 2013.

Its V8 engine delivers more than 368 kW (500 hp), assisted by two electric motors contributing a total of at least 160 kW (218 hp). The 918 Spyder is available for immediate order priced from €645,000 (US$915,000), subject to VAT and country-specific charges. US base manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $845,000 (excluding destination and handling charges).

Porsche is limiting production of the two-seater to no more than 918 units; production will begin in the same sequence in which orders are received. Production of the 918 Spyder is scheduled to commence on 18 September 2013 (i.e., 9/18); delivery of the initial vehicles will begin in November 2013.

The design is derived from the Carrera GT and Porsche 917 sports car as well as the RS Spyder and is very closely modelled on the 2010 concept car. Unlike the concept car, however, the production version of the two-seater, based on a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque, features a manual roof system with removable roof panels that can be stowed in the front luggage compartment.

The engine in the plug-in hybrid system is a high-revving V8 engine with a displacement exceeding 4.0 liters. The mid-engine power unit is based on the racing engine of the Porsche RS Spyder, which achieved multiple victories in the Michelin Green X Challenge in the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Power transmission to the rear wheels is by means of a compact, seven gear Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK). This is complemented by the two electric motors—one each on the front and rear axle. This configuration offers an innovative, variable all-wheel drive with independent control of the propulsion force on both axles.

The energy storage unit is a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket. The charging time depends on the country-specific grid network, being approximately three hours in Germany, for example, or seven hours at 110V/10A in the United States. A quick charging option is planned to reduce charging time yet further.

The plug-in sports car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a maximum of 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of more than 320 km/h (199 mph). That means the Spyder will be able to manage a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in less than seven minutes and 30 seconds, trumping the Porsche Carrera GT, which needs seven minutes and 32 seconds. The top speed on purely electric power is 150 km/h (94 mph).

To shorten the time the customer has to wait for the 918 Spyder, Porsche is offering everyone placing an order the exclusive opportunity to acquire a 911 Turbo S “Edition 918 Spyder”, also limited to no more than 918 units. Visually, both inside and out, the special edition is inspired by the 918 Spyder’s characteristic individual features. Both the technology and basic equipment of the new 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder are based on the 530 hp (295 kW) 911 Turbo S.

The 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder is being offered to coincide with the commencement of sales of the 918 Spyder with deliveries starting in June 2011. The Coupé version of the special edition costs €173,241 (US$246,000) in Germany and €184,546 (US$262,000) as a Cabriolet, including VAT and country-specific equipment items respectively.

Source: Green Car Congress

Porsche 918 Spyder Plug-In Hybrid Supercar Out in the Wild - VIDEO

In this video produced and released by Porsche, Michael Mauer, the company’s design chief, takes us on the 918’s first in-the-wild drive prior to the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Montery, California.

In the video Mauer brings up some salient and stark points saying, “Due to the environmental discussion, there were big, big question marks about the future of this type of car, and therefore as well, of the future of the Porsche brand.” To the world of automotive enthusiasts—even though many do care about things like preserving the environment and weaning ourselves off of oil—the clear direction of the future of emissions and fuel economy requirements was a shot across the bow of an obsession with all things vehicle-related.

But, as Mauer remarks, “The most important message is that there is no contradiction anymore between performance, between having fun driving a car and this whole environmental discussion.” So rest easy automotive enthusiasts, there is hope for a future with limited oil and stricter regulations. Just one listen to the sound of the 918’s growl is enough to rest your twitchy, apprehensive muscles.

Source: Gas2.0