Porsche's all-electric Taycan four-door takes the fight to Tesla's Model S, which first proved that a commuter EV could challenge legit supercars in terms of brute acceleration. But as well as the Taycan may blast down a quarter-mile strip, its faux-futuristic sounds simply can't match the wails of Porsche's original foray into electric performance, the 918 Spyder. And now, a 918 Spyder equipped with the Weissach Package has popped up on the auction website Collecting Cars with 4,770 miles on the clock.
The Latest And Greatest Porsche Hypercar
Porschephiles lament that Stuttgart still has yet to truly unveil a successor to the 918 Spyder, despite the addition of the Taycan and the all-out insanity of the 992-generation's Turbo, GT2, GT3, and retro-inspired 935 supercars. But when the 918 Spyder first debuted in 2013, it helped to prove the potency of an all-wheel-drive, hybrid layout as has now proliferated across the business (and presumably led to the recent Rimac and Bugatti deal in which Porsche played a significant role).
A Mid-Mounted V8 With Some Hybrid Help
The naturally aspirated V8 engine under the mesh rear decklid produces 599 horsepower all on its own, while an electric motor at each axle complements the traditional powerplant with 282 horses, for a combined total output of 875 hp and 944 lb-ft of torque (Collecting Cars perhaps uses ratings from the UK, home of the auction site's headquarters before their recent expansion to the US market). That allowed the 918 Spyder, when equipped with the Weissach Package, to set a Nürburgring lap record and log a 2.2-second sprint to 60 miles per hour as recorded by Car and Driver.
Classic Targa Top For Open-Air (And Silent) Cruising
The Weissach Package shaves weight and increases aerodynamic performance with additions like magnesium wheels, a larger rear diffuser, and plenty of extra carbon fiber. Meanwhile, in addition to the wild performance, the 918 Spyder's two electric motors allow it to cruise in silence for up to an EPA-estimated 12 miles of all-electric range—which makes the targa top befitting a Spyder even more attractive for morning cruises without waking up the neighbors with the first blast of the sleeping V8. Bidding currently sits at only $1,000 but expect that number to multiply quickly until the final gavel in seven days time.