Porsche reveals its 918 RSR hybrid racer today at the North American International Auto Show.
Porsche opened the North American International Auto Show today with the World Premiere of the 918 RSR. This is the sports car manufacturer’s first appearance at the Detroit show since 2007.
"The Porsche 918 RSR impressively demonstrates the passion of our engineers and designers for developing the world's most advanced and best looking sports cars," said Matthias Mueller, President and CEO of Porsche AG.
The 918 RSR Concept is a high-end synthesis of Porsche’s 2010 successful hybrid concepts – the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and the 918 Spyder. It is a true “racing laboratory” featuring an updated V8 engine from the successful RS Spyder racecar with an output of 563 horsepower at 10,300 rpm. In addition, it features electric motors on the two front wheels to provide total peak drive power of 767 horsepower. This additional power, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimized flywheel accumulator.
From the tradition established by classic Porsche long-distance racecars such as the 908 long-tail coupe (1969) and the 917 short-tail coupe (1971), Porsche designers created a link to the post-modernism of the ‘form follows function’ philosophy.
Muscular wheel arches, dynamic air intakes and a pulpit-like cockpit dominate the elegant flow of the 918 RSR’s lines. A visible fan wheel between the ram air intake tubes and a rear spoiler (with identical dimensions to that fitted on the RS Spyder race car) additionally emphasizes the racing lab function.
With the new 918 RSR racing lab, Porsche is now elevating this motor racing hybrid concept to an experimental level. In the 918 RSR, “Porsche Intelligent Performance” equates to research into methods for further sustainable efficiency improvement under the intensified conditions of racing
The 918 RSR’s number 22 pays homage to the anniversary of a further triumph. Back in the days when overall victories in Le Mans were not yet an entirely routine matter within the Porsche racing department, drivers Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep were the first to cross the finishing line in the 1971 24-hour classic. The distance record set by their Porsche 917 short-tail coupe – 3,315.21 miles) at an average speed of 138.13 mph – stood for 39 years until 2010. At the time, the Porsche 917 in Martini livery was also an experiment and far ahead of its time. Its magnesium space chassis frame set new standards in lightweight construction.
For more information about the 918 RSR and 2011 Porsche vehicles, please visit, http://www.porsche.com/usa/