Just days before the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche let the cover slip from their 918 Spyder Hybrid concept.  Yes, just days before the show, which opened March 2nd, the luxury carmaker popped the lid off of this model.

Porsche is not a company that often releases “concept” models.  In fact, only the Porsche Boxster and the Carrera GT pop up in memory as recent concepts from the luxury brand.

The Porsche 918 is a mid-engine V8 plug-in hybrid capable of putting out around 500 horsepower.   Seating allows for two, and it is all-wheel drive.  There are both front and rear electric motors, which produced around 220 horsepower.  Lithium ion batteries supply current to the electric motors, and the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) recovers braking energy and converts it to electricity.

Porsche’s press release claims that the 918 can hit the 0-60 mark in 3.2 seconds, with an average fuel economy of 78 miles per gallon.  That sounds a bit stretched, but you never know.  Luxury hybrids are slower to evolve than regular hybrids, as it is a delicate balance between traditional power and eco-friendly updates.

The 918 Spyder Hybrid features a PDK 7-speed transmission that delivers power directly to the front wheels via a fixed ratio. The aesthetics are sleek, and pay homage to other successful Porsche predecessors, keeping in-line with the brand image yet pushing the recycled envelope.  Overall, this is a hybrid concept that would be an outstanding addition to the growing number of luxury hybrids beginning to poke their grills out.  Hopefully this Porsche concept will grace the ranks of exotic cars and luxury car rentals, if not there is always a Porsche rental to indulge in.

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals