Background
While Porsche has long since been revered as a European sports car company, “Supercar” has not been part of their vocabulary. That changed with the Porsche 959, introduced in 1986, which many consider the first German supercar. Designed as a technological marvel, it featured advanced all-wheel drive, a 2.85L twin-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 450 horsepower, and a top speed of 197 mph. Originally developed for Group B rally racing, the 959 became a road-legal pioneer in automotive innovation.
This was followed by the Carrera GT, which was introduced in 2004 and developed from an abandoned Le Mans prototype. Its centerpiece was a race-derived 5.7L V10 engine producing 612 horsepower, paired with a lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque chassis for optimal rigidity and weight reduction. Advanced ceramic composite brakes provided exceptional stopping power, while inboard suspension enhanced handling precision. Aerodynamic design elements, including a deployable rear wing, maximized stability at high speeds.
Next Gen Supercar
The Porsche 918, unveiled in 2013, was designed as a groundbreaking hybrid Supercar. Created under the direction of Michael Mauer, it combined a 4.6L V8 engine with two electric motors, producing a staggering 887 horsepower. Developed as the successor to the Carrera GT, the 918 aimed to redefine performance by integrating the latest aerodynamics, hybrid technology, and lightweight materials. The results spoke for themselves.
- Motor Trend: “The 918 greets both with a solid handshake. But of course, you say. An $850,000 price tag damn well better afford Zuffenhausen engineers a big technological toy box to play with.”
- Automobile Magazine: “It’s a real Porsche. It just happens to be a Porsche of the future, available today.”
- Car and Driver: “The Porsche 918 Spyder Is the Quickest We’ve Ever Tested: 0-60 in 2.2 Seconds!”
Hybrid Power
At the heart of Porsche’s new “wonder car” was its Hybrid powerplant. A mid-mounted 4.6L naturally aspirated V8 engine is at its core, producing 608 horsepower and revving up to 9,150 rpm. This engine is complemented by two electric motors—one on the front axle delivering 129 horsepower and another on the rear producing 156 horsepower—bringing the total output to a staggering 887 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque.
The hybrid system includes a 6.8 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, capable of providing up to 12 miles of pure electric range. The car can operate in multiple drive modes: E-Power for electric-only driving, Hybrid for efficiency, Sport Hybrid for spirited driving, Race Hybrid for maximum performance, and Hot Lap mode, which unleashes the full power of the hybrid system.
This innovative setup enables the 918 to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, with a top speed of 214 mph. The hybrid system also recovers energy during braking, enhancing efficiency without sacrificing performance. The end result of combining instant electric torque with the power of its V8 yielded a level of performance the Porsche had not previously offered.
Top Gear, the Car Guy’s car guys
While it’s impressive to read a factory’s specifications, what did non-engineering types think of the 918? For that, I thought it would be interesting to recall Top Gear’s thoughts who had a chance to drive a new Supercar from Porsche and give us a more “real world” opinion. Some of their thoughts are as follows:
- In comparison with the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari, Top Gear notes that the 918 “answers a wider brief: an all-wheel drive hybrid Spyder that you could genuinely use every day, in pretty much any conditions.”
- They commend its interior quality and connectivity, stating, “I love the quality of the interior and the peerless connectivity.”
- Overall, Top Gear regards the Porsche 918 Spyder as an “astonishing, so much more than just the hypercar you can drive every day” and “quite possibly the most complete hypercar there has ever been.”
Major Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Engine Type | Naturally Aspirated V8 |
| Engine Displacement | 4.6L |
| Horsepower | 608 hp (Engine) |
| Torque | 528 lb-ft (Engine) |
| Electric Motors | Two (Front and Rear Axles) |
| Total Output | 887 hp (Combined) |
| Battery Capacity | 6.8 kWh Lithium-Ion |
| Electric Range | 12 miles |
| Transmission | 7-Speed PDK Dual-Clutch |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Chassis | Carbon-Fiber Monocoque |
| Brakes | Ceramic Composite |
| Weight | 3,616 lbs (1,640 kg) |
| Fuel Economy (Combined) | 67 MPGe |
Performance
| Specification | Details |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 2.6 seconds |
| 0-100 mph Acceleration | 4.9 seconds |
| Quarter Mile Time | 10.0 seconds |
| Top Speed | 214 mph |
| Electric-Only Top Speed | 93 mph |
| Braking Distance (60-0 mph) | 94 feet |
| Braking Distance (100-0 mph) | 269 feet |
| Lateral Acceleration (G-Force) | 1.8 G |
| Nürburgring Lap Time | 6:57 (Minutes:Seconds) |
| Combined Horsepower | 887 hp |
| Combined Torque | 944 lb-ft |
| Weight-to-Power Ratio | 4.08 lbs/hp |
Collectability
The Porsche 918 Spyder continues to grow in collectible for several key reasons.
- Limited Production: With only 918 units produced globally, the 918 Spyder’s exclusivity ensures its rarity.
- Technological Innovation: The 918 represents a milestone in automotive engineering, as Its advanced hybrid system was groundbreaking for the time, demonstrating the potential for performance and efficiency to coexist.
- Historical Significance: The 918 is part of the “Holy Trinity” of hybrid supercars alongside the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari.
- Performance: With a Nürburgring lap time of 6:57, the 918 proved its capability as one of the fastest production cars ever. Its performance metrics remain impressive even by today’s standards.
- Porsche Heritage: The 918 exemplifies Porsche’s engineering expertise and ties to motorsport, enhancing its appeal as a collector’s piece that honors the brand’s legacy.
Conclusion
True to Porsche’s history of engineering excellence, the 918 made its mark on the sports car industry and proved it was capable of innovative design that could also perform alongside more exotic supercars of its generation. As the need to incorporate electrical power into transportation grows, we can respect the 918 as a true pioneer of its time that helped launch Porsche into its future of hybrid powertrains for both production and race vehicles.
Above images © 2025 Canepa.
Above content compiled and edited by © Rex McAfee
