2010 Geneva: Along came a Porsche Spyder

[svgallery name=”2010 Porsche 918″]

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

GENEVA –As the first significant presentation of this year’s media day, Porsche christened the 2010 Geneva show with a bit of a surprise. We already knew a bit about the next-gen 2011 Cayenne SUV coming to Canada later this year. And 911 GT3 R Hybrid will race at the Nürburgring 24hrs in May 2010 as an experimental green race car. What we weren’t ready for was the 918 Spyder concept, above, a Boxster-size, two-seat roadster that is powered by a 500 hp V8 AND a pair of electric motors—one at each set of wheels—adding an additional 218 hp.

The German automaker claims can go from naught to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and get to 320 km/h mph at the top end and get around the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit in less than 7:30 minutes. Yet (and here’s the other green shoe dropping), the Porsche über-hybrid also gets 3.02L/100 km (78 US mpg) and emits just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

All in theory, at least.

Porsche has no plans on making the 918 Spyder a production car. Yet. But don’t be surprised if its looks form the basis of the next Boxster/Cayman due in 2012.

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