Artist Designs Spectacular Porsche 918 Spyder Hypercar Successor

Dec. 23, 2022 11:49 AM ET by Sebastian Cenizo Render / 5 Comments

Porsche has confirmed that it's working on a new hypercar, but since it'll be a long time before we see it, let's dream for a moment.

The pictures you see below depict an imaginary machine called the 973 GT, a digital artist's impression of what a successor to the magnificent Porsche 918 Spyder might look like. Why are we showing you this? Because Porsche is working on a successor to the 918 as we speak, and we're impatient.

The graphic renders you see here are the work of freelance concept artist Francesco Artusato. While the headlights are certainly more reminiscent of Porsche Le Mans prototypes, the overall shape of the car is clearly inspired by the original 918, penned by Michael Mauer. The breakaway from the front fenders to the doors is also a clear nod to the Spyder, as is the design of the front grille. We're not complaining.

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The fuel filler cap, the glasshouse (which sadly does not appear to feature a detachable roof), and the rear aero remind us of the 918 too, but the top-exit exhaust pipes have been relocated on this render, now housed in the more traditional location at the center of the diffuser a-la Porsche Carrera GT.

But pretty much everything else feels unique. Even the swan neck wing is more aggressive than the one you'd find on Zuffenhausen's current range-topper, the 911 GT3 RS. Even the air vents on the hood with their unique boomerangs are borrowed from the GT3 RS.

The wheels may be a touch "too aftermarket" to be convincing, and the taillights give us Acura NSX vibes, but until Porsche decides to reveal a hint of what its next hypercar will look like, this is what we've got, and it's not bad at all. While we're on the subject, what can we expect from the real 918 successor?

The 918, like its contemporaries - the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari - was a hybrid of sorts. Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that its eventual successor is likely to lean into future propulsion technologies too. Yes, that means plenty of electrification. But there may yet be hope that we will get a hybrid rather than an EV, as Porsche is working furiously to extend the life of the combustion engine by investing heavily in synthetic fuels, which it is already making breakthroughs with.

That being said, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has made it clear that EVs are a big part of the automaker's plans for the near future, noting that, before 2025, a hypercar "won't be possible." Until then, we'll have to daydream.

Artist Designs Spectacular Porsche 918 Spyder Hypercar Successor

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Artist Designs Spectacular Porsche 918 Spyder Hypercar Successor

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