Porsche decided to keep the production version of the 918 Spyder under wraps for now showing off instead the motorsport-inspired 918 RSR Coupe Concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Combining hybrid racing technology with a dramatic looking coupe body style, the RSR is every bit as impressive as the design study showcased last year at Geneva. For its motivation, the 918 RSR relies on a V8 gasoline engine delivering 563HP and a pair of electric motors producing a combined output of 204HP. Check out our gallery with live pictures from the Detroit show after the break or click here for more details on Porsche's conceptual racer.
Porsche's return to the Detroit Show after a four year-absence is marked with the introduction of a new racing concept based on the company's 918 Spyder from last year's Geneva Salon. The 918 RSR is a two-seat mid-engined coupe, and according to Porsche, it demonstrates what happens when the technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car and the design of the 918 Spyder concept are combined together.
The motorsports version of the 918 Spyder concept car gets a V8 engine based on the RS Spyder race car's 3.4-liter unit tuned to deliver 563HP at 10,300 rpm, and is linked to a six-speed racing transmission with shift paddles that feeds the rear wheels.
A pair of electrics motors mounted on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW (102 hp), or a total of 204HP, lifting the combined output to 767HP. The German maker notes that the extra power from the electric motors is available for around eight seconds when the system is fully charged.
As with the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car, the additional power from the electric motors, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimized flywheel accumulator.
In the 918 RSR study, the two electric motors also offer a torque vectoring function with variable torque distribution to the front axle, which increases agility and improves steering response.
Aside from the coupe configuration with the fixed roof and the characteristic doors which open at an angle upwards, the 918 RSR also features an added air intake in the roof between the wing doors, a special aero package that includes air splitters beneath the front lip and a huge rear wing, plus slick tires on 19-inch wheels with single centre locking nut.
The interior of the road-spec 918 Spyder has also been modified and comes with a single figure-hugging bucket seat, while the passenger seat has been replaced by flywheel accumulator.
We already know that Porsche plans to debut a new model at the rapidly approaching North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next week, but the problem is that the German sports car maker is keeping its cards close to its chest about the type of vehicle it will unveil.
Adding to the many rumors already circulating on the internet, Bloomberg today reported that the model in question will be a racing coupe version of the 918 Spyder hybrid concept that was first shown at last year's Geneva Show.
Citing two people with knowledge of the matter, the news agency said that the car will be a two-seater concept coupe featuring a 600-horsepower V8. We'll remind you that the 918 Spyder, which was recently approved for a limited production run, gets a 500HP 3.4 liter V8 electro-enhanced by way of motors that add another 160 kW (218 hp).
We'll monitor the story and post an update if anything new arises, but for now, check out some renderings of a competition 918 made by a member of the Teamspeed forums in the video below.
It's not every day that you find a Porsche Carrera GT engine up for sale on eBay, or anywhere else for that matter. This particular example of Porsche's 5.7-liter V10 thoroughbred engine with an output of 612 bhp at 8,000 rpm and maximum torque of 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) at 5,750 rpm, is said to have clocked a mere 6,000 miles or just under 10,000 km.
It's not clear from the seller's description if the ten-cylinder powerplant comes alone or together with the 6-speed manual gearbox, but the starting price is set at US$103,000 and the 'Buy it Now' price at US$128,000 [~€96,000]. Our question is simple; if you had the money to buy the V10, what car would you use it on? Voice your thoughts in the comments section after the jump.
Porsche Carrera GT, manufactured by Porsche of Germany, is priced at $440,000 dollars. It is well worth its price if we count the 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 DIN (605 SAE) horsepower (450 kW) and the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds, touching a maximum speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).
The design is stunning too, Carrera GT has a 5 colors paint schemes that includes: black, guards red, fayence yellow, basalt black, GT silver and seal grey. The innovating thing about this car is the way that its engine
is placed: with the use of a clutch made of a high-tech ceramic material, it`s allowing the engine to sit lower in the chassis than in any other super car. This feature is not only making the Carrera GT a road car with the looks of a race one, but also improves its aerodynamics and lowers its center of gravity.
Porche Carrera GT does have traction control even if, like some of its competitions, doesn`t use electronic driving aids such as dynamic stability control.
