After several years of development and testing as well as showing a prototype version, Porsche has finally unveil the much anticipated 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder in full production guise. This is Porsche's answer to the 2014 McLaren P1 and the 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, which both of these cars were unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March 2013. Porsche also mentions that the 2014 918 Spyder is the direct successor to the legendary Carrera GT which was first unveiled in 2003. Porsche will sell only 918 units of this car as the number 918 resonates the number of units made. The all new 2014 918 Spyder utilises the all new 4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine making 608 hp (447 kW) at 8,700 rpm. This is also aided with electric motors provide 286 hp (210 kW) at 6,500 rpm. Therefore, the combined output stands at an outstanding 887 hp (652 kW) and maximum torque stands at 917 Nm or 1,280 Nm, depending on the gear ratio. The 918 Spyder is the least powerful hybrid hypercar among the other two (McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari). Unlike the McLaren P1 and the Ferrari LaFerrari, the 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder is driven through all four wheels and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the front axle when running on electric power or to all four wheels when used as a hybrid. The electric motors obtained their energy from a 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery installed at the lower back of the monocoque. The battery pack can be charged during braking or with a plug-in charger. When running on E-Power (Porsche's term of electric drive) it can do from 0-100 km/h in less than 7 seconds and reaches its top speed of 150 km/h. While the 4.6-liter V8 engine which is used in Race Hybrid Mode, it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds, that is the same acceleration time as the Lamborghini Veneno and the 2012MY Nissan GT-R. 0-200 km/h stands at 7.7 seconds and 0-300 km/h is achieved at 22 seconds Top speed stands at 345 km/h Despite the herculean power, the new 918 Spyder consumes just 3.0-3.3L/100 km of petrol, in accordance to the New European Driving Cycle with CO2 emissions stands at 79g/km. The 918 Spyder can run solely on electric drive for around 30 kilometers. Buyers can opt for the Weissach package which comes with special colors inspired by the firm's most important race cars and includes lightweight magnesium alloys which lower the car's regular 1,634 kg weight by approximately 35 kg. Other features are the six-point harness seat belts, optional film coating instead of a paint finish, as well as several carbon fiber aerodynamic add-on parts. The 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder is 4643mm long, 1940mm wide and 1167mm tall, with a 2730mm wheelbase. It wears 20-inch alloy rims on the front and 21-inch alloy rims at the rear together with 265/35 ZR20 and 325/30 ZR21 tyres, respectively. The cargo capacity stands at 110 liters and fuel tank has at 70 liters capacity. The 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder costs 845,000 USD in the US while opting of the Weissach Package it costs 929,000 USD. Update; Porsche has officially announced the official Nurburgring lap time for the Porsche 918 Spyder. It clocks at 6 minutes and 57 seconds around the Green Hell, which makes the 2014 918 Spyder the fastest hybrid hypercar at the Nurburgring.
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