Porsche 918 Spyder is faster than expected

Porsche reveals Weissach package stats for 918 Spyder hybrid supercar.

Words Paul Healy Published 19 November 2013

What's the news?
We already knew the Porsche 918 Spyder fitted with a Weissach package was fast, as it was the first (and so far only) production car to dip below the seven-minute barrier at the Nurburgring, but what we didn't know was quite how fast. Thankfully, as Porsche readies itself to commence delivery to customers, it has released the stats for the 'weight-optimised' version of the 918 and the facts are amazing. The 0-100km/h sprint is completed in a scarcely believable 2.6 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than a standard 918 Spyder. To put that into perspective it took longer for you to read about the Weissach package equipped 918's 0-100km/h time than it actually takes the car to hit 100km/h from a standstill.

And the performance stats just keep on coming: zero to 200km/h is dispatched in 7.2 seconds (0.5 seconds faster than the standard car), and it passes the 300km/h mark after 19.9 seconds (2.1 seconds quicker).

"We have now used all options available to electrify the 918 Spyder, working right up to the last minute to do so," said Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Senior Vice President 918 Spyder, which should make Ferrari and McLaren only slightly less tearful.

Being a hybrid supercar the 918 can also run in electric mode at times and the Weissach package has altered that too. No longer will it take a laborious 6.2 seconds to complete the 0-100km/h sprint in pure electric, emissions free mode - instead it will take 6.1 seconds.

Anything else?
In addition to aiding performance the Weissach weight savings also have a positive effect on fuel economy and emissions. The car that ran the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:57 has an official fuel consumption figure of 3.0 litres/100km and CO₂ emissions of just 70g/km. Ok, so the 3.1 litres/100km and 72g/km figures for the regular car were already impressive enough, but still...

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