Following its big reveal in Frankfurt, Porsche has announced that the 918 Spyder recently recorded the fastest ever Nurburgring lap for a car with global road homologation, with a time of 6.57 minutes.
Previously held for four years, the record was broken on the morning of September 4 by Porsche factory race driver Marc Lieb – on his first attempt. Lieb, who drove at an average speed of over 111 mph (179.5 km/h), was joined by Porsche test driver Timo Kluck and the legendary Walter Röhrl; with both of them also recording sub-seven minute times during the day.
At the heart of this innovative hypercar is a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine, which is based on that of the LMP2 RS Spyder race car and is backed up by a hybrid module at the rear along with a electric motor powering the front wheels. When using electric power alone, top speed is 150 km/h (93 mph) with a range of 25 kilometres achievable – depending on driving style but, with the full 661 kW (887 hp) a its disposal, 100 km/h appears in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph). All from a car capable of drinking around three litres of fuel every 100 kilometres.
“The radical hybridisation of the 918 Spyder from the very outset is what made this lap record possible” said Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project. “The lap time on the Nordschleife is, and remains, the toughest measure of a super sports car. Posting a time of 6.57 minutes, we achieved a result of which everyone in the development team – and at Porsche as a whole – is rightly proud.”
[Source: Porsche]