In the rarefied world of supercars, the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder has few rivals, among them the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Bugatti Veyron. All offer incredible performance that puts many pure racecars to shame. But what sets the 918 Spyder apart is its unique hybrid powertrain that allows it to perform at the highest levels and at the same time, thanks to plug-in EV (electric vehicle) technology, be driven short distances as a pure electric like a Chevrolet Volt. This combination of civilized EV cruising of up to 19 miles or ferocious track performance is packaged in a handsome carbon-fiber body. Only 250 or so 918s will be sold in the U.S., so it offers a high level of exclusivity and, at $845,000, costs less than a Veyron, McLaren P1 or LaFerrari.
Driving the Used 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
The Porsche 918 Spyder is quite docile, especially in pure EV mode. There are four additional driving settings, all utilizing the sophisticated hybrid drivetrain. The normal Hybrid mode works like a conventional hybrid to deliver the best fuel economy in everyday driving situations. Dial up Sport Hybrid and the EV system is used to assist acceleration, while in Race Hybrid, the electric motors are tapped for even more power, while the 7-speed automatic transmission has a much more aggressive shift pattern. A “Hot Lap” mode uses all the available energy from the system for a few fast laps. The driving experience is awe-inspiring thanks to the incredible acceleration, flat cornering and the ability of the all-wheel-drive 918 Spyder to slice through turns. Just as important as the drivetrain in getting the new Porsche 918 up to speed are the carbon-ceramic brakes which provide sure stopping power. The mid-engine Spyder has a weight distribution of 43/57 percent front/rear, which Porsche believes is optimal for performance.
Interior Comfort
As befitting a supercar, the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder has a co*ckpit that looks like it came from a spaceship. The angled center console is actually a large, tablet-like touch screen with only three knobs. Turn the key on and it comes alive with the various control systems that can be manipulated by the swiping or touching the screen, or using the manual knobs. There are also controls on the steering wheel, much like a racecar, that allow you to select driving modes and a red push button to engage the Hot Lap function. The leather-clad sport bucket seats are supportive and there’s luxury touches like the high-end Burmester sound system.
Exterior Styling
The tidy exterior of the Porsche 918 Spyder not only is attractive, but also has interesting detailing, the most striking of which are the exhausts that exit through the top of the engine cover. On the left side is a large aluminum cap for the fuel filler and on the opposite side a similar piece covers the plug-in point for the battery back. The removable roof panels give the Spyder a dual nature – with the top in place it has the look of a serious sports prototype racer, top off it has the feel of a fun roadster.
Favorite Features
HYBRID POWERTRAIN CARBON-FIBER CONSTRUCTION
The combination of battery-powered motors and a stout V8 engine delivers truly electrifying performance in a track setting while delivering 22 mpg combined on the street.
The lightweight material is used everywhere including the chassis, body and interior trim giving the new Porsche 918 Spyder tremendous power-to-weight ratio.
Standard Features
The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is a fully-equipped supercar. It has keyless entry, automatic climate control, a Burmester premium sound system, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and multiple LCD monitors, including the touch-screen console, a navigation/audio screen in the center of the dash, and additional driver-information screens in the instrument cluster.
Factory Options
There are two notable options available on the all-new Porsche 918 Spyder. The first is a liquid aluminum paint scheme that costs $65,000, and the second is the Weissach package (named after Porsche’s legendary engineering center). The latter is a performance-oriented option that includes lightweight magnesium wheels, carbon-fiber exterior accents and Alcantara inserts in the leather interior.
Engine & Transmission
The combined output of the 4.6-liter V8 engine with the front-and-rear-axle electric motors comes to a combined 887 horsepower. The engine drives the rear axle through a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. With a redline of 8,700 rpm and exhaust tips right behind the two occupants’ heads, the new Porsche 918 Spyder at full throttle wails like a racecar. With this massive output, the Spyder will generate more than 1g of accelerative force when the launch control is engaged. 4.6-liter V8
608 horsepower @ 8,700 rpm
398 lb-ft of torque @ 6,700 rpm
Rear-axle motor: 156 horsepower
Front-axle motor: 129 horsepower
Combined system: 887 horsepower, 944 lb-ft of torque
EPA combined city/highway fuel economy: 22 mpg
EV-only range on a full charge: 19 miles
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