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Porsche 918 Spyder Detailed Further Ahead Of 2013 Frankfurt Debut

The order books for Porsche's upcoming hybrid-powered 918 Spyder have been open for some time in Europe, despite the absence of pricing, styling and technical details. 

This week, the German sports and luxury carmaker has revealed a handfu


The order books for Porsche's upcoming hybrid-powered 918 Spyder have been open for some time in Europe, despite the absence of pricing, styling and technical details. 

This week, the German sports and luxury carmaker has revealed a handful of new details through technology magazine Wired, which picked up a short drive of Porsche's new hero car this week. In prototype form, that is.

Porsche had already confirmed it would use a new 4.6 litre V8 engine in the production 918 - up from the concept's 370kW 3.4 litre V8 - but power figures remained a secret.

Reports out of Europe earlier this year suggested the larger engine would develop around 410kW, with the hybrid's electric motors adding a further 170kW.

Speaking with Wired magazine, Porsche confirmed that the prototype produces 425kW out of the V8, while also drawing motivation from an 80kW electric motor at the front axle and a 90kW motor between the engine and seven-speed transmission.

Porsche says the prototype is currently recording 0-100km/h times below three seconds, with top speed in the vicinity of 325km/h.

The production 918 Spyder supercar will measure 147mm longer than the concept, and a kerb weight of 1680kg is expected - around the same length as the new Lamborghini Aventador, and 100kg heavier (blame the lithium-ion batteries for that).

Watch for the 918 Spyder to make its production debut at next year's Frankfurt Motor Show - yes, that's nearly two years away.

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