Porsche 918 RSR

[Dino Scuderia]

Packing the same drivetrain as the track-proven 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, Porsche says that the 918 RSR will bring a whopping 767 combined horsepower to the party when it shows up in the paddock. A total of 563 of those ponies are provided by a 6.2-liter V8 that revs to an atmospheric 10,300 rpm. Porsche has partnered its beastly eight-pot with two electric motors capable of 75 kilowatts of juice positioned at each front wheel.

The 918 RSR stores braking energy in a flywheel accumulator stationed where the passenger seat would traditionally rest, and the tech allows the driver to summon up an extra bump in power for passing or acceleration. The pilot can command the boost in grunt for up to eight seconds.

Like the 918 Concept, the bones of the 918 RSR are built of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and the body was penned to pay respect the legendary racers like the 917 short-tail.

Autoblog

[Dino Scuderia]

918rsr #2

[Dino Scuderia]

918rsr #3

[Dino Scuderia]

918rsr #4

[RacingManiac]

Sexy car, though I am not personally too fond on the back when looking at it straight on...a tad boring in that respect....but thats nitpicking...

Too bad I think this car will only be eligible for Nurburgring 24 Hours/VLN races. Its not homologated for anything else until it actually becomes a production car. Lining this up with the P4/5 Competizione will be some sight to behold though...

BTW the V8 is 3.4 liter, not 6.2....at least if what they are saying about RS Spyder motor is true...

[Commodore GS/E]

10300 rpm are insane. I can't think of many road cars that have ever broke into the 10.000's.
The looks are super amazing. Porsche has without doubt done a good job to both channel their history and look modern at the same time. It's also a good sign that they start it up as a race car which (again) strengthens their relations to motorsport. It's also almost the only "hybrid" i would consider to buy if I had the money.
I also have to compare it to the CRZ for obvious reasons: the Honda claims to be the first sporty hybrid and aims for the enthusiast's heart. But in my opinion, Porsche is going the only possible way to win the enthusiast's heart for hybrid technology: by proving it's sucess in racing. I really hope the best for Porsche.

[RacingManiac]

I think its a stretch to call it a road car though, even for the original 918 Spyder with a passenger seat. The engine and gearbox came straight from their LMP2 car. Which despite how amazing it sounds(in sound and in concept), is not going to be something very livable day to day....

On that tangent with the CR-Z, its a scary thought that I am liking it more and more....saw one the other day and its a spiffy looking car...

[henk4]

10300 rpm are insane. I can't think of many road cars that have ever broke into the 10.000's.
The looks are super amazing. Porsche has without doubt done a good job to both channel their history and look modern at the same time. It's also a good sign that they start it up as a race car which (again) strengthens their relations to motorsport. It's also almost the only "hybrid" i would consider to buy if I had the money.
I also have to compare it to the CRZ for obvious reasons: the Honda claims to be the first sporty hybrid and aims for the enthusiast's heart. But in my opinion, Porsche is going the only possible way to win the enthusiast's heart for hybrid technology: by proving it's sucess in racing. I really hope the best for Porsche.

this is not a road car, the engine that is being used is the 3.4 litre previously used in the RS Spyder LMP2 programme, for which factory support has now stopped. So running this sort of revs in a race engine is nothing spectacular.

[RacingManiac]

It is when its running direct injection though.....

[culver]

I like most of it thought it's not anything to risky design wise. I hate the engine cover. I simply don't like the fake parts that are supposed to remind of a manifold or something and of the old air cooling fans.

[culver]

Is it safe to assume this car will race in a one make (spec) class. Porsche's reputation for racing was made back when they competed against other makes. Again, in the substance over style vein I would be more interested in this as a racing car and be more impressed with the racing heritage, links etc if it races in an open series.

[Dino Scuderia]

I like most of it thought it's not anything to risky design wise. I hate the engine cover. I simply don't like the fake parts that are supposed to remind of a manifold or something and of the old air cooling fans.

Agreed. It's a Porsche, not a Fisher-Price toy.

[RacingManiac]

Is it safe to assume this car will race in a one make (spec) class. Porsche's reputation for racing was made back when they competed against other makes. Again, in the substance over style vein I would be more interested in this as a racing car and be more impressed with the racing heritage, links etc if it races in an open series.

I doubt this will be a "one-make" series car. For one a car like this is far too complicated and expensive to run for a one-make series. They've made a total of how many RS Spyder? This is no less expensive to run I'd imagine compare to that...plus the flywheel hybrid system on top of that....

If its homologated I can see it racing in FIA GT, if that series is still healthy and well. It might race in ACO sanctioned race if some kind of special dispensation is made, but I am sure other OEM will be pretty noisy about it. The only legitimate outlet for it right now is VLN/Nurburgring 24. Which has classes made up exactly for cars like this...and to Porsche its no less important/prestigious to score a win for a hybrid in that race, especially consider how close their GT3R Hybrid car came...

[Ferrer]

I also have to compare it to the CRZ for obvious reasons: the Honda claims to be the first sporty hybrid and aims for the enthusiast's heart. But in my opinion, Porsche is going the only possible way to win the enthusiast's heart for hybrid technology: by proving it's sucess in racing. I really hope the best for Porsche.
Costing a fortune does not bode well for the enthusiast...

[Kitdy]

The possibility of seeing this up against Jim's P4/5 at the Nürburgring 24 hours is very exciting for me.

Will this car be ready for then? Does Porsche have any plans to race this?

Where is the whole 918 project going anyways?

[2ndclasscitizen]

That's a pretty freaking nice interior for a racecar.

[NSXType-R]

The possibility of seeing this up against Jim's P4/5 at the Nürburgring 24 hours is very exciting for me.

Will this car be ready for then? Does Porsche have any plans to race this?

Where is the whole 918 project going anyways?

I agree!

It needs Gulf colors then!

I like it a lot too.

[Ecnelis]

Porsche 918 RSR #5

[Ecnelis]

Porsche 918 RSR #6

[Ecnelis]

Porsche 918 RSR #7

[Ecnelis]

Porsche 918 RSR #8

[Ecnelis]

Porsche 918 RSR #9

[Ecnelis]

Porsche 918 RSR #10

[LHamilton_w]

That's a pretty freaking nice interior for a racecar.

The MoTeC display and that race seat are just plain lousy. They aren't bad, but in such a beautiful interior, they stand out too much in a bad way. Makes it seem they decided to take a shortcut there.

It doesn't detract from the car as a whole in any way, but I'd think if they're gonna make the interior so nice, the display and race seat should be a bit more spiffy and look the part as well. The CGT buckets that Porsche uses honestly look a million times better than the 918 RSR's race seat lol.

Interesting to see what race series it will race in though. It would be nice to see this concept applied to a new LM program, as it would be pretty cool to see Porsche challenge for the overall win for the first time since 1998-ish (don't remember the exact date).



Unlike many other race cars, all in all this is a race car with class IMO (and that's becoming rare nowadays with all the new regulations) and I definitely would like to see it racing.

[Ecnelis]

Le Mans 2012! :D But no word about 39th ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen...


Called the 918 RSR, this new advanced gasoline-electric-powered coupe closely previews a new series production-based race cars under development at Porsche Motorsport, which is eying a full-fledged factory-backed return to the famed Le Mans 24 hour race in 2012, according to new Porsche chairman, Mathias Mueller.

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20110110/OEM04/110119998

Anyone noticed that is press release?


The two-seater mid-engine coupé 918 RSR clearly reveals what happens when the technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R hybrid and the design of the 918 Spyder are transferred to a modern, innovative super sports car.
So, Porsche, the second seat - where is it?

[pimento]

So, Porsche, the second seat - where is it?

There's a big bench seat on the back there look!

[2ndclasscitizen]

The MoTeC display and that race seat are just plain lousy. They aren't bad, but in such a beautiful interior, they stand out too much in a bad way. Makes it seem they decided to take a shortcut there.

I was referring to the leather trim.

[csl177]

The MoTeC display and that race seat are just plain lousy. They aren't bad, but in such a beautiful interior, they stand out too much in a bad way. Makes it seem they decided to take a shortcut there.

It doesn't detract from the car as a whole in any way, but I'd think if they're gonna make the interior so nice, the display and race seat should be a bit more spiffy and look the part as well. The CGT buckets that Porsche uses honestly look a million times better than the 918 RSR's race seat lol.


Easily the plushest interior ever seen in a racer, so not sure how any of the components could be more "spiffy" and still make sense. :confused:
The display is typical equipment as is the wheel. The car probably won't race with this interior... not practical, and I don't think leather everything is FIA compliant. Best to view the pix as attractive PR material.

[RacingManiac]

Not to mention upholstering probably adds weight too...

If they are racing this thing it'll be much more stripped down...the car we see here is probably more of a "Autoshow" spec car...

Which BTW, I am going down to NAIAS to check it out today....scored some industry pass....

[RacingManiac]

Disappointed...Porsche took the car back to Germany, and replaced it on the display with a Cayman R.....

So they basically showed it at Detroit for 2 press day and that was it...not even for the Industry days or the Charity preview day.....BOO...

[Duell]

Porsche 918 RSR #3

Maybe a mod could change the title to 918 RSR instead of 918RSR.

[thebrochureman]

looks nice, but why make a RSR Version of it when they have not made the car yet.