Porsche Technical Introduction Presentation
Rusnak Porsche of Pasadena hosted this gathering to help inform its customers on the features and performance of the Porsche 918 Spyder. Luckily we had Craig Irish, a Porsche Field Technical Manager, to help us understand this engineering masterpiece.
The 918 is like no other car out there. Irish said that according to the engineers from Weissach, “this car is 10 years ahead of any other vehicle in the automotive industry as far as technology goes.” Not only does it have a powerful, naturally aspirated 4.6 liter V8, it is equipped with two electric motors as well. The combined output of the gas and electric power plants provide 887 hp, which can propel the 918 from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Now that is fast. And what is a fast car without a capable braking system? The 918 sports large ceramic composite rotors that are internally vented and cross drilled.
There are several cooling systems to handle the heat from the engine, motors, oil as well as the batteries if they get too hot. The lithium ion batteries, per Irish, are kind of like us. They neither like it too cold nor too hot in order to function properly.
The Porsche Active Aerodynamic (PAA) system adjusts aero elements in the front and rear of the car depending on the mode that the car is set at. It ranges from E-Power mode where the front inlets are closed and the rear wing is in the down position to minimize aerodynamic drag. In full race mode, the rear wing is in the up position and tilted, thus providing maximum downforce on the rear tires. Race mode also opens up the front inlets under the headlamps to provide added air cooling.
The monocoque and subframes are constructed out of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). This material is extremely strong, lightweight, and helps in the lowering of the vehicle’s center of gravity.
Not only did Rusnak Porsche have the 918 Spyder on display, they also had its predecessor there as well, the Carrera GT. It is amazing how far technology has developed in just ten years since the Carrera GT came out. Imagine what Porsche has in store for the next ten years and beyond.
Image Gallery
