2010 Geneva Auto Show: Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept

Porsche has been doing well refining the 911’s silhouette for the last 50 years or so, but many have been been waiting for a new, contemporary design from the carmaker, one that would dress a sports car, not an SUV or a saloon, and we’re not talking about a Cayman restyling here.

The wait is over: Porsche introduces the 918 Spyder concept car at the Geneva Auto Show. The car can accommodate two passengers and its engine is situated in the right place - just behind the occupants. The 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid that tries to be both a hypercar and an eco-monk. The car uses a V8 powerplant delivering 500 HP, used in conjunction with not one or two, but three electric motors that bring an additional 160 kW (217 HP) to the game. However, the 918 is no gas guzzler, as it promises to use only 3 liters of fuel for 100 kilometers (78 mpg) and emits 70 grams of CO2 for every driven kilometer.

Here’s how the company describes the new automotive creation: “In its design and interior architecture, the Porsche 918 Spyder combines classic elements with appropriate solutions for the future.”

The 918 name is not virgin however, as it first appeared back in the early 70s, when Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the designer of the first 911, received a special present for his birthday, in the form of a road going racing car, based on the Porsche 914 but powered by a 300 HP engine borrowed from the 908 racing car. Only two prototypes of the car were built.