DETROIT
-- Porsche
Cars North America, Inc. revealed the all-new 918
RSR concept car at the 2011 North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS). Don't look for it on public days,
because it was only shown during the first two media
days of the auto show. However, it is a high-performance
hybrid race car. The 918 RSR made its world premiere
as Porsche returned to Detroit after skipping the
NAIAS for three years in a row. Porsche's sales have
increased so the automaker decided to come back to
the Motor City.
"It's
basically a concept of a racing laboratory for some
future Porsche race cars," said Steve Janisse,
manager of media relations for Porsche Cars North
America, Inc. "It features a very innovative
hybrid system that has a V8 engine from a normal racecar,
the RS Spyder, but it has also a flywheel that generates
electric power to the front wheels as well."
The
918 RSR is equipped with a V8 engine, which produces
563 hp. The electric motors on the two front wheels
add a total of 150 kW or 204 hp for a total driving
power of 767 hp.
"It's
unique because it's the only one of a kind that does
this," Janisse added. "Earlier this year,
we started testing this technology in the 911 race
car. It did extremely well. It raced in three races
this year. We had a 918 Spyder, this is a 918 coupe
to show what a future race car could look like. We'll
see if this spawns some future race cars. But the
918 Spyder, which will go into production, we have
not said how many we will build. Stay tuned."
While
the Porsche 918 RSR is a race car, a plug-in hybrid
electric version (the 918 Spyder) will be made produced
for the public. In the next few weeks, the timing
of production and the sticker price will be announced.
"It's
very low and wide and sleek, it's really built for
the race track," the manager of media relations
explained. "The Spyder is the opentop version
of this, which we will build for customers to buy.
That one is super high-tech, it's a plug-in hybrid
electric system. You can run all-electric or with
the race engine or drive it on the street as well.
It also recharges when you drive. It's about 78 mpg
in normal driving. It's spectacular."
This
is Porsche's first display at the NAIAS in four years.
The automaker skipped the Detroit show for the last
three years in a row.
"We're
glad to be back, we missed Detroit," Janisse
said. "Detroit is the biggest automotive show
in North America. The U.S. is the biggest market for
Porsche. It makes sense to be back. We had to leave
for a few economic reasons. The markets returned,
Porsche's sales are up. We're introducing a lot of
new models so it makes sense to be in Detroit."
The
918 RSR won the Best in Show Award from the AutoWeek
Editor's Choice Awards and the Best Concept Car Award
from the EyesOn Design Awards. Both are announced
during the run of the 2011 NAIAS in Detroit.
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