Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II (2015)

Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II (2015)

Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II (2015)

The Porsche 918 Spyder has been greatly influenced by its affiliations with motorsport. A number of the developments to the Porsche race car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2014 were used in the 918 Spyder - and vice versa. The structural concept, which is based on a rolling chassis (i.e. a chassis without bodywork), is standard for Porsche race cars. The design of the V8 engine is based on that of the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) race car, the RS Spyder, and the supporting monocoque structures and unit carriers are made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). More importantly, however, the Porsche 918 Spyder is considerably more fuel efficient than any of its competitors. In fact, this plug-in hybrid combines the performance of a race car with an output of over 880 bhp with an estimated NEDC fuel consumption of just three litres per 100 km, which is lower than the majority of today's compact cars. Drivers can therefore enjoy maximum driving pleasure and minimum fuel consumption.

HYBRID DRIVE ENHANCES DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE-

The core message surrounding the 918 Spyder is that the Porsche hybrid drive offers uncompromising dynamic performance. The unique all-wheel drive concept with a combined combustion engine and electric motor drive system on the rear axle and a second electric motor on the front axle make this possible. This concept is based on Porsche's motorsport development work for the successful 911 GT3 R hybrid.

The additional, individually controllable front-wheel drive enables new driving strategies to be used for extremely high yet safe speeds through bends in particular. What's more, the advanced "boost" strategy manages the energy of the electric drive so intelligently that the unrestricted total power of the 918 Spyder can be accessed simply by fully depressing the accelerator pedal for every burst of speed at maximum acceleration. In short, the Porsche 918 Spyder allows even drivers without motorsport training to experience the potential of advanced longitudinal and lateral dynamics.

QUIET AND ELEGANT:"E-POWER"-

When the vehicle is started up, "E-Power" mode is selected as the default operating mode, provided that the battery is sufficiently charged. Depending on load, the 918 Spyder can cover between 16 and 32 kilometres on purely electric power. Even in pure electric mode, the Porsche 918 Spyder accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under seven seconds and can reach speeds of up to 150 km/h. In this mode, the combustion engine is used only when needed. If the battery charging condition drops below a set minimum level, the vehicle automatically switches to hybrid mode.

EFFICIENT AND COMFORTABLE:"HYBRID"-

In "Hybrid" mode, the electric motors and combustion engine work alternately, focusing on achieving maximum efficiency and minimum fuel consumption. The power output of the individual drive components is modified in line with the current driving situation and the required performance level. Hybrid mode is typically used for fuel-efficient driving.

SPORTY AND DYNAMIC:"SPORT HYBRID"-

If a more dynamic performance is required, the power units in the 918 Spyder switch over to "Sport Hybrid" mode. The combustion engine now operates continuously, representing the main propulsive force. The electric motors are activated to support acceleration through the electric boost function, or at points when the operating point of the combustion engine can be optimised for greater efficiency. This mode focuses on performance and a sporty driving experience at top speeds.

THE TYRES OF THE 918: A SPECIAL CHALLENGE-

On the one hand, the tyres needed to have optimum grip and razor-sharp handling on all road types. On the other hand, the tyres needed to be durable on the racetrack and have as low a rolling resistance as possible. As a result, the developers of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres for the Porsche 918 Spyder were faced with a seemingly insurmountable conflict of objectives. However, working closely with Porsche engineers, the tyre experts from Michelin were able to overcome this challenge in impressive fashion: The 918 Spyder is rolling out of production facilities exclusively on specially tuned Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. A total of 550 prototype tyres were produced and tested over the course of the testing period. 400 preproduction prototypes and 200 series test specimens were also produced before Porsche gave the final approval for the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres in size 265/35 ZR 20 for the front axle and 325/30 ZR 21 for the rear axle. The tyres developed specially for the Porsche 918 are also raising the benchmark in the ultra sports tyre segment when it comes to driving on wet surfaces and in terms of aquaplaning safety. The Porsche 918 sees this exclusive partnership between Michelin and Porsche in the development of special tyres for super sportscars entering its second phase. This partnership started more than ten years ago with the Carrera GT.