918 Spyder spotted in So. Cal.

[Marc Bixen]

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[herr_oberst]

interesting how the fuel filler is taped off.

[Emission]

They have been in SoCa doing testing for about two weeks now...

Porsche flew me to the Nurburgring for a ride in one of its 918 Spyder concepts just before they came to the States (about Sept. 17). Not on the big track, but a 160-mph blast on the local country roads.

If you are up for the read:

2014 Porsche 918 Spyder

- Mike

[ZAMIRZ]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

interesting how the fuel filler is taped off.

That isn't the fuel filler, it's the charging socket. Fuel filler is in the same location on the driver's side of the car.

[Elombard]

Is the top exit exhaust muffled? seems it would be really loud.

[KNS]

The 918 is such a great looking vehicle, it could be the new face of Porsche since, in my opinion, the 911 has run its course. If they took the same gorgeous shape of the 918, scaled it down to about the size of a 996/997 and installed a mid mounted flat six and priced it less than the current 991, it would be huge hit.

The 991, while a fantastic performing vehicle, seems to have strayed a bit far from the original 911 and barely resembles it anymore. The 918 could be the new flagship Porsche.

[Venetian]

That is a complex piece of machinery. Hard to imagine the local Porsche dealership working on this car. Maybe they would fly in a Porsche technician(or team) if there were issues.

An engineering marvel no doubt but personally way too much technology for me.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by ZAMIRZ

That isn't the fuel filler, it's the charging socket. Fuel filler is in the same location on the driver's side of the car.

Ahh. I wondered about that, didn't know if it had one or not; I was thinking the gas engine might regenerate all electrical power without the need for offboard charging.

[Marc Bixen]

Sometimes manufacturers tape off fuel fillers while cars are undergoing fuel economy testing. Every ounce of gas and evert kw of energy is measured and recorded.

[Emission]

Originally Posted by Elombard

Is the top exit exhaust muffled? seems it would be really loud.

The exhaust is muffled and not very loud. The system bolted on the exhaust headers (inside the V!) is temporary, as they are still tuning it.

- Mike

[Emission]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Ahh. I wondered about that, didn't know if it had one or not; I was thinking the gas engine might regenerate all electrical power without the need for offboard charging.

They ran it at high idle between runs, so it seemed to regenerate enough power to juice its batteries at least a bit...

Originally Posted by Marc Bixen

Sometimes manufacturers tape off fuel fillers while cars are undergoing fuel economy testing. Every ounce of gas and evert kw of energy is measured and recorded.

What he said.

- Mike

[Elombard]

Interesting, I am looking forward to pictures, it seems like the mufflers and cats must be very small, it does not seem like there is much room between the engine and the rear deck. I guess there is as much room as there is between the rear bumper and the 911 engine.

[dave 911]

Now that's cool....what did it sound like when it passed you?

[island911]

Cool stuff.

The closest I've come to one is this.



...something about those who ordered a 918 get one of those^ "edition 918 Spyder"

edit for zoom



(?)

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by island911

Cool stuff.

The closest I've come to one is this.



...something about those who ordered a 918 get one of those^ "edition 918 Spyder"

edit for zoom



(?)

You get the exclusive opportunity to buy one if you put a down payment on the 918. Porsche has chutzpah in spades.

[island911]

Ah. Thanks.

So, next time I'm at the dealer, I should look for it next to the key-fobs and coffee mugs?

It is always nice to pick up a trinket with a new Porsche.

Yeah; chutzpah! (and yet there it is.)

[Craig_D]

Apparently, they were also testing the 918 in the high country of Colorado a few weeks back in the black-n-white Martini livery. A friend of a friend posted a "what is this?" picture.

I'll take mine in metallic silver thank you very much...

- Craig_D

[chicago_82sc]

Mike - great article. Thanks for the link.

Your job sounds like "the" dream job.

Seeing the development of the car has been very interesting. I do have to ask - with the upward facing exhausts - what happens when it rains?

[Emission]

Originally Posted by chicago_82sc

Mike - great article. Thanks for the link.

Your job sounds like "the" dream job.

Seeing the development of the car has been very interesting. I do have to ask - with the upward facing exhausts - what happens when it rains?

It is a dream job, driving/riding some crazy machinery, but the grass is always greener... oh, nevermind.

The rain will collect and fall harmlessly to the ground (there is actually a pipe within a pipe inside the exhaust). I asked Porsche the same question!

- Mike

[Drive-em]

They, Porsche, drove seven pre prod 918s from CO out to the SF Bay Area, loaded them onto transport trucks and hauled them off yesterday. Crappy cell phone pics to follow.
Don't think I will ever see seven of them together again!