The Frankfurt motor show was a watershed moment for the Porsche 918 Spyder, which was finally revealed in its production specification for the first time.
But it wasn’t just about £650,000 hypercars. The Squadra Corse marks the final chapter for the Lamborghini Gallardo, and you could buy three production versions of the Ferrari 458 Speciale for the price of one 918.
Read on for our top five performance cars of the show
Audi pulled the wraps off a high-performance diesel sports car concept on the eve of the Frankfurt motor show. The Audi Nanuk Quattro is powered by a newly developed 5.0-litre V10 TDI engine promising 544bhp, capable of reaching 62mph in 3.8sec with a 189mph top speed. The Nanuk, which claims on- and off-road ability, has been produced in collaboration with Italdesign Giugiaro and is described as a “dynamic sculpture on large wheels that opens a new chapter in the Audi design language”.
Porsche unveiled the 918 Spyder at the Frankfurt motor show in its final production form. The 214mph petrol-electric hybrid two-seater is powered by a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain based around a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine producing 599bhp. The 918 Spyder will storm from 0-62mph in just 2.8sec. Porsche has achieved a kerb weight of 1634kg for the 918 Spyder in its lightest form, despite the inherent complexity and bulk of its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and battery pack.
The Ferrari 458 Speciale is described as being “a completely new, uncompromising, streamlined sports car concept.” The Speciale is an extreme version of the 458 Italia that points the way to several technical innovations planned for future models. Power comes from a modified version of the 458’s V8 producing 597bhp - the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever built by the company. 0-62mph is dispatched in 3.0sec. No pricing has been released yet, but the Ferrari 458 Speciale is likely to cost in the region of £210,000.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse is the swansong for the current Gallardo - the biggest selling model Lamborghini has every produced. It is powered by the same 562bhp V10 as the Super Trofeo race car and capable of reaching 0-62mph in 3.4sec and a top speed of 199mph. Thanks to the extensive use of carbonfibre and other weight-saving measures, the Squadra Corse has a dry weight of 1340kg – 70kg less than the standard Gallardo, a replacement for today’s Audi R8 due in 2015.
Further details of the Toyota Yaris Hybrid R’s innovative 414bhp powertrain have been revealed following its show debut. The car is powered by a combination of a 1.6-litre engine and two electric motors attached to each of the rear wheels - effectively giving the Hybrid-R electric all-wheel drive. Combined, the power output of the Hybrid-R is 414bhp.Toyota hasn't ruled out using the Yaris Hybrid-R in motorsport, saying that “its configuration makes it suitable for use 'in a number of different racing categories.”
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