2013 Porsche 918 Spyder Martini Livery

918 Spyder prototype in vintage Martini Racing design

Driving trials of the Porsche 918 Spyder have entered the next phase. A permanent fixture of the test program for the 918 Spyder – and in the tuning process
for all Porsche vehicles – is the 12.92 mile (20.8 km) long Nordschleife of the Nürburgring race course with its many bends and selective passages. A lap time of less than seven minutes and 22 seconds is one of the development goals of the innovative plug-in hybrid drive super sports car.

The 918 Spyder, which is hardly an everyday vehicle, yet is well equipped for everyday tasks, combines a high-performance internal combustion engine with electric drives at the front and rear axles to achieve extraordinary driving performance and excellent efficiency. The system power of all three drives together is greater than 770 hp. The car's fuel consumption is forecast to be around three liters per 100 km when tested on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), which is equivalent to CO2 emissions of about 70 g/km.

The monocoque, consisting of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), reduces the car's weight and delivers remarkable rigidity and precision. Other highlights are the car's variable aerodynamics; adaptive rear axle steering and 'top pipes' exhaust system, which routes the pipes upwards. All of this makes the Porsche 918 Spyder a super sports car for the future, even though the styling of the prototype is reminiscent of historical models.

The latest test vehicle is now turning laps in the legendary Martini® Racing look of many historic Porsche racecars, particularly from the 1970s. More than nearly any other racecar design, the Martini Racing livery quickly attained cult status and is still in vogue today. Martini was the official partner of the Porsche factory team between 1973 and 1978.

Back then, the attractively designed 'Martini Porsche' racecars with their numerous victories were a topic of conversation. These victories included finishing first overall at the Targa-Florio in 1973, winning the Sports Car World Championship in 1976 and overall victories at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1976 and 1977. As early as 1971, a Porsche 917 finished first in the legendary endurance race in Le Mans with the support of Martini®. Whether a Porsche 908, 917, 935 or 936 or one of various 911 RS or RSR models, common to all of these race cars was the memorable Martini® Racing livery implemented in a wide variety of designs.

Porsche AG and the Martini brand, represented by Bacardi & Company Limited of Switzerland, have signed a new partnership agreement to create a modern Martini® Racing design to be exclusively available on the innovative 918 Spyder.

Source - Porsche

Successful test drive on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife

In test runs on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Porsche 918 Spyder prototype achieved a best time of just 7 minutes and 14 seconds around the 12.8 mile track. The plug-in hybrid super car has surpassed expectations and proven its dynamic driving potential nearly one year before the start of series production.

'With the time of 7:14 minutes, the 918 Spyder prototype is already proving to be a fully sustainable concept after just a few months on the road,' said Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project.

The lap time of the Porsche 918 Spyder prototype is one of the best ever recorded for a street-legal vehicle with standard tires. It is particularly impressive as it was achieved from a standing start. The 795-horsepower plug-in hybrid super sports car was equipped with production-intent Michelin street tires and the optional 'Weissach' feature package, which includes measures to improve driving dynamics.

Source - Porsche