Public premiere of the Porsche 918 Spyder in Germany

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The Second Schloss Bensberg Classics will be taking place from 10 Sept. through 12 Sept. 2010 – a vintage car event sponsored by Volkswagen Group that unites a Rallye Historique and a Concours d’Elégance.

Vehicles in a class of their own are set and ready to go again at the second run of the vintage car event in Bergisch-Gladbach for the Rallye Historique and the Concours d’Elégance. The Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopo was the uncontested star of the Geneva Motor Show in 1971: The prototype designed by Bertone designer Marcello Gandini represented a break with every convention, sporting an extreme V formation, futuristic double wing doors as well as a tube frame and aluminium body hailing from automobile racing. The automobile displayed at the Schloss Bensberg Classics in the “Italian elegance” category is one of the first built in the series that was limited to 157 vehicles.

In contrast, the Volkswagen Cheetah Roadster was built only once and will be running in the “Showcars” category. The design prototype built in 1970, one of a dozen variants, was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car’s actual realisation was subsequently carried out at Karmann in Osnabrück, based on a shortened chassis of the Volkswagen 1600.

Alongside the classic automobiles, the exhibition at Schloss Bensberg will primarily feature one vehicle, which will cause the hearts of automobile fans everywhere beat quicker, yet only in the future—the new Porsche 918 Spyder super sports car with hybrid drive. The mid-engine sports car constitutes a fascinating concept that unites racing technology and electric mobility. The open two-seater is powered by a high r.p.m. V8 engine with 367 kW (500 PS). Two electric engines at the front and back axle jointly deliver another 160 kW (218 PS). The driving performance of a super sports car—maximum speed of over 320 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds—are counterbalanced by the economy and emission values of a compact: The Porsche 918 Spyder consumes only three litres of petrol every 100 kilometres; the CO2 value adds up to a mere 70 g/km. The design is based on such legendary racing cars as the Porsche 917 Le Mans and currently successful models like the Porsche RS Spyder.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is a pure exhibition vehicle and will not be appraised by the panel of judges—unlike the approximately 40 high-quality classics that are officially participating in the Concours d’Elégance. They will be judged by the nine-member reviewing committee according to the strict rules of the FIVA International Association. The Schloss Bensberg Classics, arranged for the second time, received the highest A rating awarded by FIVA again. The panel of judges for the Concours d’Elégance at the Schloss Bensberg Classics is correspondingly high-calibre: president Walter de’Silva, Sandra Button, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Jacky Ickx, Chris Bangle, Wim Oude Weernink, Eckhard Schimpf, Bernd Ostmann and Jürgen Lewandowski will be passing judgement on the character, aesthetics and authenticity of the cars on exhibit.

Source: VW (press release/media site)