One of the most awesome supercars of the 2010s was arguably the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder. This two-door Roadster was beautifully styled, it packed a serious punch, and it came with advanced tech. Beyond that, it also offered an efficient electric mode as well as a hybrid mode.
On the downside, it was prohibitively expensive with a starting MSRP of $845,000 for the regular Roadster or $929,000 if you were to avail of the Roadster with Weissach Package (more on that later). Also, this car is a bit heavier than many had hoped, and very few units were produced.
Despite its few drawbacks, this ride is highly-rated with 10/10 ratings for its style and performance from The Car Connection. All in all, this is a much-loved ride and without further ado, let's look at what we love about the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder.
Power And Styling
The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is a mid-engined AWD ride with an EPA estimated range of up to 420 miles. It comes with about 18 miles of purely electric range. With its 4.6-liter or 4,593 cc V8 engine (a Porsche MR6, to be precise), buyers get 875 hp and about 944 lb-ft of torque.
The 918 Spyder comes with electric motors, one for the front and another for the rear. This Spyder is a plug-in hybrid, and with a 110v socket, the battery can reach 100% charge in under seven hours. Alternatively, the battery can be charged in half an hour if you use a DC fast charger on an industrial socket. This is an optional purchase with this vehicle.
You can avail of five driving models in total with the steering wheel controls of this vehicle; specifically;
- Hybrid
- Race Hybrid
- Sport Hybrid
- E-Power
- Hot Lap
In Limited mode, the Porsche 918 Spyder could achieve a top speed of 93 mph and achieve a 0-62 mph run in under eight seconds. You can take it up notch by notch as you move through the various modes. The Hot Lap brings out the best of this awesome ride, however, although it is only really designed for short runs like drag racing. At its best, the Spyder can hit 62 mph from a standstill in a little over two seconds.
In terms of its design, it's clear to see that the 918 Spyder is an absolute beaut with a resemblance to the Carrera GT supercar. The flowing curves of this Spyder give it a natural and performance-oriented look.
What Else We Love About The 918 Spyder
In all, there were 918 units of this ride produced (for obvious reasons) from fall 2013 to summer '15. Beyond the normal edition Spyder, there were units that came with the Weissach Package. This pro-aerodynamics and weight-reduction Weissach Package was offered for an additional $84,000 in the United States.
This package came with an Alcantara interior as opposed to one that is leather-based, extended rear diffuser, as well as magnesium wheels. The Weissach edition also featured plenty of carbon fiber components, such as its windscreen frame and rear wings.
Overall, the 918 Spyder weighs 3,715 lbs, albeit the Weissach Package model weighs just 3,616 lbs. As for fuel efficiency, you're looking at about 22 mpg with gas but as much as 67 mpge if you employ the hybrid mode.
As for the interior, it has some similarities with the more affordable Porsches of the market. For instance, there is a driver-focused interface, but the large center stack helps to give the 918 an extra edge over most of the brand's lineup. All in all, there's plenty to love about the 918 Spyder despite its costly price tag.