The Porsche 918 Spyder has eight cylinders.
Its petrol engine is a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 mounted in the middle of the car. The engine’s architecture was related to Porsche’s RS Spyder Le Mans prototype, linking the road-going hybrid supercar to the company’s motorsport engineering. In the 918, the V8 works with two electric motors to provide all-wheel drive and very high combined performance.
The number eight refers to the combustion engine only. The electric motors do not have cylinders, so they are not added to the cylinder count. This is a common source of confusion when discussing the 918’s hybrid powertrain.
The production 918 Spyder was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and built in a limited run from 2013 to 2015. Its hybrid system combined a rear electric motor with the V8 and a separate front motor, allowing the car to drive all four wheels without a mechanical propeller shaft to the front axle.