Porsche shows us the 918 Spyder with Walter Röhrl

With almost 800 horsepower under the throttle, the 918 Spyder promises to be the next plaything for millionaires, less than two years before its market launch. And with some time to spare, Porsche has set about putting the final touches on the 918; to do so, it has enlisted well-known figures, and one of them has been the legendary Walter Röhrl.

The two-time World Rally Champion was one of the first to take the wheel of the hybrid supercar, as Röhrl has been linked to Porsche in recent years in the role of the company’s test driver. Now he is one more personality alongside the 918, the star of a new video from Porsche.

What truly sets the 918 apart from the rest is its series hybrid powertrain, made up of two electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear, plus a 4.6-litre V8 with just over 570 CV. The two electric motors together deliver a total output of 170 kW (around 218 CV). The combined declared output of the hybrid system exceeds 770 CV, which is respectable for a hybrid sports car built from carbon fibre, aluminium and magnesium that is not exactly light, with a weight of 1,700 kilos.

Porsche is nothing if not a company willing to do whatever it takes to sell the 918 units that will be available in a limited edition. That is why it has wanted to warm up the atmosphere a little with this video of the 918 Spyder, referring to a lap time of 7:14 minutes on the German circuit, in the unmistakable traditional Martini colours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pukna2PG97c&feature=player_embedded

Via | YouTube