What's the news?
Porsche's 918 Spyder continues to undergo its testing and development programme; although this time sporting the classic Martini livery. The design was made famous by many classic Porsche racers, specifically the 917 that won Le Mans in 1971.
Exterior
The Martini paint job has been designed exclusively around the 918's standard body kit, with only the front and rear bumpers free from the classic red and blue colour scheme. Small front and rear spoilers coupled to a rear diffuser create variable aerodynamics for the model, and a 'top pipes' exhaust system route the hot air upwards at the rear.
Interior
As the 918 is still in testing, Porsche's usual high quality interior can only be expected for the finished car. It is unclear however whether or not the "Spyder" embroidered bucket seats in the Martini test car will make production.
Mechanicals
A 570hp, 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine and electric motors on both the front and rear axles contribute to a claimed 770hp, while producing only 70g/km of CO2. Porsche claims a 0-62mph time of less than three seconds, and a top speed of over 200mph. A combination of power, aerodynamics and adaptive rear axle steering are all designed to get the 918 round the Nürburgring in Porsche's target time of seven minutes 22 seconds.
Anything else?
The official partnership between Martini and Porsche began in 1973 and ran until 1978. During this time, Porsche enjoyed many victories including two wins at Le Mans. This partnership has recently been rekindled, allowing the prototype to sport the iconic colours.
James Giddings - 1 Aug 2012
