Styled in the vein of the Carrera GT supercar, the 918 Spyder draws on the best of Porsche's heritage, while keeping both eyes firmly on the present and future. A low-slung stance wrapped in smooth, flowing curves gives the 918 an organic look, while at the same time speaking of its performance potential through muscular fenders and snarling air inlets. Inside, the 918 Spyder is not so different from more attainable Porsche products, with a clearly driver-focused interface and clean, industrial lines. A large, floating, capacitive center stack sets the 918 apart as something more than the usual.

And more than the usual is indeed the story when it comes to the 918 Spyder's drivetrain. Instead of a massive, powerful engine, the 918 uses a combination of a compact and potent 4.6-liter V-8 engine rated at 608 horsepower with a hybrid electric drive system that brings total output to 887 horsepower and 940 pound-feet of torque. Two electric motors are used, one for the front axle and one for the rear; the front axle can drive the Spyder on electric power alone, or contribute to the engine and rear motor's output for a through-the-road hybrid setup. The 918 is a plug-in hybrid, allowing the battery to reach full charge in less than seven hours from a standard 110-volt household socket, or in less than 30 minutes with the optional DC fast charger on an industrial circuit.

In total, five drive modes are available through the steering wheel controls: E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid, and Hot Lap. E-Power mode uses only electricity to power the car, with a range of about 18 miles from its 6.8-kilowatt-hour battery. Even in this limited mode, the 918 Spyder can reach 93 mph top speed and accelerate to 62 mph in about seven seconds. Hybrid and Sport Hybrid modes each provide a degree of mixed propulsion, with economy and sportiness in a progressively more aggressive balance. Race Hybrid mode pushes both the electric drive system and the V-8 engine to maximum capacity, yielding impressive performance. For maximum velocity, however, Hot Lap mode takes the 918 to its extremes, eliminating the recharge cycle on the battery to put the most power possible to the wheels. As the name indicates, Hot Lap mode is only suited to brief runs for top times.