Porsche 918 Spyder prototype

Porsche has released another batch of official 918 Spyder prototype pictures - this time with complete bodywork and ultra-cool 917 racing car inspired camouflage. It's also confirmed the 770hp super-hybrid is still gunning for 94mpg.

The Porsche 918 Spyder, lest we forget, was the absolute jaw-dropping surprise star of the 2010 GenevaMotor Show. Mixing a 500hp race-spec 3.4-litre V8 with two electric motors, it promised a sensational 718hp but just 70g/km CO2.

While it quickly became clear Porsche was serious about building a new supercar successor to the Carrera GT, we were never entirely convinced it could actually pull off such an extreme efficiency to performance ratio. Clearly, we were wrong.

According to Porsche, the 918 is now not only pushing 770hp - that's 52hp more than the original concept - overall fuel economy remains 'in the region of three litres per 100km.' Which is indeed equivalent to around 94mpg.

To make this possible even under lab conditions has surely got to be a hell of a task. So as well as having the two motors - one on the front axle, one assisting the rear - Porsche is building the 918 as a plug-in hybrid, meaning you can pre-charge the battery pack before you set off.

Other juicy details Porsche has re-affirmed included the full 'carbonfibre reinforced plastic' monocoque, fully adaptive aerodynamics (something we can also expect on the next hyper McLaren), F1-style top exiting exhaust pipes, and adaptive rear-steering.

Getting all of these components - not least the two entirely separate drivetrain systems - to work together in harmony is certainly taxing the collective Porsche brain (to paraphrase Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG, Wolfgang Hatz).

The 918 Spyder remains on course for full production to begin in September 2013, with the first cars set to reach their customers by the end of next year. Boy, does it look like they're in for a treat with an awesome machine.

CLICK ON THE GALLERY ABOVE TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF THE 918

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