Porsche 918 Spyder promises electrified performance

2014 Porsche 918 Spyder

FRANKFURT — It’s been a long time since we first saw the concept that spawned the Porsche 918 Spyder shown this week here at the 2013 International Motor Show. Fortunately, the 887-horsepower hybrid super sports car that debuted at the show seems to be worth the wait.

Hybrid power train Let’s start just aft of the driver’s head in the engine bay where you’ll find a 4.6-liter, eight-cylinder engine that produces 608 horsepower. To save weight, the engine uses carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) for components like the oil tank and air intake system, titanium for its connecting rods, a high-strength, lightweight steel for the crankshaft, and a thin-walled alloy steel/nickel exhaust system.

The exhaust system is noteworthy for its top pipes, which fire out of the top of the engine bay, providing the shortest exit path for hot exhaust gases, keeping the weight down thanks to shorter piping, and giving the 918 Spyder a mean, race car look.