Porsche Unveils 918 Spyder Plug-In Hybrid Concept

Walter Röhrl waves from the passenger seat as the 918 Spyder concept rolls down the runway of VW’s dedicated show pavilion here in downtown Geneva. In the driver’s seat, Porsche chairman Michael Macht detaches the steering wheel before hopping out.

Low, wide, shod with 935-style dinner-plate wheels, and with two giant exhaust tips exiting just past each door, the 918 Spyder looks like the demon spawn of a Carrera GT and the RS Spyder racer. But what the hell is this thing?

It’s Porsche’s take on the plug-in hybrid. Röhrl claims that the 918 Spyder goes around the ‘Ring in under 7:30, and Macht says it consumes less than 3 l/100 km (about 78 mpg). It can go more than 15 miles on just electric power. The engine is a mid-mounted V-8 and puts out more than 500 hp. Three electric motors add a combined 218 hp.

When? The company hasn’t made a decision yet. But keep in mind that Porsche has never shown a concept that hasn’t been built.