Porsche 918 Spyder Concept at 2012 Detroit Auto Show
- Looks like: A racecar with a bomb on board
- Defining characteristics: A couple of electric motors and one seat
- Ridiculous features: A “flywheel accumulator” riding shotgun
- Chance of being mass-produced: Likely, but in low numbers at high prices
Porsche’s wild 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid is on its way to production, but those pining for a sleeker hardtop model will have to wait because the newly released 918 coupe is heading to the racetrack first.
This coupe, called the 918 RSR, is a racing laboratory with technology that will be tested on the track, Porsche says. There’s no passenger seat or production-ready interior here, just components of the hybrid system that’s shared with Porsche’s GT3 R Hybrid racecar, as well as numerous toggle switches and digital displays.
On the RSR, power is stored during braking and released by the driver at a push of the button. Stored power goes to a pair of electric motors at the front wheels that boost output to a maximum of 767 horsepower. By itself, the direct-injected V-8 makes 567 hp.
Among the coupe’s most interesting features are the doors, which are reminiscent of Porsche’s classic 917 racecar. They open with a sweep forward and upward, a move that will make Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing owners jealous.
