Mar 10, 2010 8:54:22 AM
- Spyderidol
- Rennteam Master
- Loc: Mozambique
- Posts: 5807, Gallery
- Registered on: Apr 25, 2007
- Reply to: Boxster Coupe GTS
Mar 10, 2010 8:54:22 AM
Mar 10, 2010 1:08:48 PM
10 March 2010
Porsche boss Michael Macht says that staff in the firm are fully committed to building the 918 Spyder, the biggest shock - and hit - of the Geneva motor show.
Taken from drawing to show car in under five months, the 918 mixes a 500bhp petrol V8 with two electric motors for a combined 718bhp. Porsche has calculated that it could be quicker than the old Carrera GT around the Nordschleife.
Porsche has yet to commit to producing the car - but speaking to Autocar, Macht admitted that the positive reaction to the 918 had already swayed opinion within the firm.
"There is no one inside Porsche who doesn't want to build the 918," he said. "The response has been marvellous; we will ask buyers to sign letters of intent.
"The 918 Spyder provides the answer to whether there can be high-performance cars in the future," he added. "Many have said they are finished. This car shows they are not."
Insiders say the production 918 is likely to go on sale within five years. However, like all Porsches, it will need to make money, despite its 'halo' status within the firm's range.
Macht also denied that a hybrid version of the Cayenne would damage sales of the diesel variant, which made its world debut at Geneva. "The Cayenne hybrid will account for about 15 per cent of sales," he said, "and appeal to customers who use their cars mostly in urban areas. We believe the hybrid sales will be incremental, and the diesel will be better at rural and highway use, where people need its cruising economy and high gearing."
Mar 11, 2010 12:40:32 PM
Mar 11, 2010 2:56:32 PM
Spyderidol:
Here is a size comparison between the 918 vs CGT vs R8
Hey!
You converted my car into right-hand-drive!
Like my Cincinnati Bearcat hat?
Mike
2005 Carrera GT - Signal Yellow + 2008 Tesla Roadster - Thunder Gray +1972 BMW 3.0 CSi - Nachtblau +2009 Bentley Arnage T - Black Saphire
Mar 11, 2010 3:29:09 PM
Mar 13, 2010 7:15:28 PM
Mar 13, 2010 7:38:34 PM
Mar 13, 2010 7:38:36 PM
PinKchampagnE:
Spyderidol:
Might explain the Adidas sponsor then.
Nice PS. This car has a fantastic potential.
To be fair to the original photoshop designer of that 918 Le Mans racer, the rear wing is likely based on the 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, including the official sponsorship...
...images from Porsche's official Estoril testing...
Mar 13, 2010 7:42:42 PM
Mar 13, 2010 7:49:14 PM
Mar 13, 2010 7:52:28 PM
Enmanuel:
I know the car looks good as a racer but I doubt we will ever see an actual racing spec version. After all its the CGT successor and there was never a race spec version of the CGT.
just my opinion
That is because the CGT came about because Porsche canceled their LMP2000 project (Thus the V10).
Also - The rules did not allow for the carbon chassis.
There are some things happening in GT2 (and its future) that Porsche is not too happy about (like spec engine management systems for all cars) and that Hartmut Kristen has suggested might compromise future GT2 activities.
If this happens, then Porsche might look at GT1.
This car will not be the basis of the future LMP, but the technology on the 918 will certainly be the basis for the future hybrid LMP (if it ever appears)
Mar 13, 2010 8:01:48 PM
Mar 13, 2010 8:11:39 PM
Yes this has been around now for a while.
Some interesting things to note:
I sincerely hope that these rules will change in the fullness of time.
Mar 13, 2010 9:19:32 PM
I recently read an interview with Hartmut Kristen on the SportAuto website and, as you said, they have an eye on the LMP1 class... especially if the Hybrid technology homologation will be extensified. He also refered to the fact that they have to align their motorsport activities with the remaining brands in the Volkswagen group. So I do not see Audi and Porsche in the same class, not that it was ever brought up at all...
Mar 14, 2010 8:00:47 AM
Ferdie:
I recently read an interview with Hartmut Kristen on the SportAuto website and, as you said, they have an eye on the LMP1 class... especially if the Hybrid technology homologation will be extensified. He also refered to the fact that they have to align their motorsport activities with the remaining brands in the Volkswagen group. So I do not see Audi and Porsche in the same class, not that it was ever brought up at all...
Thanks Ferdie!
Unfortunately I had to translate the article with google translator, and so it was a bit like reading a third language document written by a profoundly dyslexic journalist. However, I got the gist of it.
Interesting to note the confirmation of the aligning of the motorsport program to the rest of the VAG. Not at all unexpected, but .......quite unfortunate IMO. What this means to me is that as long as the regulations favor diesels, we will continue to see Audi in LMP (an no Porsche). Only if the hybrid rules are "clarified" and thus allow competition for the diesels, will we see a future Porsche LMP program (and if financial conditions allow),
From a personal point of view (and I know here we disagree) I'm quite sad to see Porsche harping on about CO2 at every opportunity, I understand their need to "modify" their image (especially in Germany), but its still very sad to see so much lip-service to a rather "disputed" science. Anyway, if that is what it takes to keep Porsche afloat, then so be it.
Mar 14, 2010 12:56:20 PM
Spyderidol:
Unfortunately I had to translate the article with google translator, and so it was a bit like reading a third language document written by a profoundly dyslexic journalist. However, I got the gist of it.
You´re welcome. I hoped you´d understand the most of it via Google translator.
Regarding Porsche´s motorsport strategy, they seem to see the need to differentiate themselves from other competitors. The hybrid technology seems to be one opportunity since Audi and Peugeot already cover the segment of "alternative" fuels. Let´s face it, both of us only want to see Porsche in racing when they can be successful. The impact the LMP2 Spyder had against the faster LMP1 cars in various races certainly contributed in a positive way but I´d be curious to hear whether partners such as Penske have been (financially) happy with the project. Maybe you know more about it.
I prefer any Porsche to participate in racing, not just those hybrid models but I sense that there could, finally be a significant technology transfer from racing to serial production as it hasn´t been the case for a long time in motor racing. The 918 Spyder´s success in Geneva shows that people are very open for such a concept and, in my personal opinion, a mild hybrid system has strong advantages in a sportscar.
Mar 14, 2010 4:45:49 PM
Mar 15, 2010 8:16:59 AM
Ferdie: Regarding Porsche´s motorsport strategy, they seem to see the need to differentiate themselves from other competitors. The hybrid technology seems to be one opportunity since Audi and Peugeot already cover the segment of "alternative" fuels.
Yes, Porsche is not really hugely motivated to spend millions on a diesel racing program as the core of their product base is not diesel driven, and to be honest, even if they did want to go down that route, VAG would never allow it (not in LMP1 and especially not at Le Mans.
It's clear that Porsche feels that the only way that they can eventually become competitive (given the current rules) is through the Hybrid route.
The ACO keeps making small air restrictor adjustments to the diesels, but the diesel engine is not particularly sensitive to air restrictions. The future rules foresee reduction in their (the diesels) engine capacity , but it will remain much larger than the petrol engine capacity.
There is a huge torque advantage in the diesel regulations, and I think that Porsche sees that the Hybrid solution (if the rules are altered to allow the usage of hybrid technology for power gain) is a perfect way to neutralize that advantage.
Let´s face it, both of us only want to see Porsche in racing when they can be successful. The impact the LMP2 Spyder had against the faster LMP1 cars in various races certainly contributed in a positive way but I´d be curious to hear whether partners such as Penske have been (financially) happy with the project. Maybe you know more about it.
It is often said that Penske does not race using his own monies. From what I have heard and read, the Penske deal was a good one for Penske.
However, the other "customer" (in the ALMS) was not so enamored with the deal (or so it goes on the grape vine). I know little of the other LMS teams.
I think the main problem was that the ACO kept on ruling against the RS Spyder (instead of doing the opposite and bringing the two classes together they chose to insist on castrating the LMP2 cars ) and this eventually lead to increased costs of the RS spyder program in order to remain competitive. (and we all know Porsche is not cheap).