Porsche 918 RSR concept car

Porsche have stolen all the front page headlines with this 756bhp Porsche 918 RSR racing car concept.

Although Porsche has committed to racing the car at an unspecified point in the future, speculation is already rife that the car will also result in a production model for the road albeit without the large rear wing and racing decals.

At the launch, Porsche also confirmed that the Porsche 918 Spyder, on which this latest car is heavily based, will also make production in limited numbers. No details were given, but its expected to cost around 500,000.

The Porsche 918 RSR is powered by a V8 derived from the RS Spyder race car, giving peak power of 555bhp. That figure is topped up by two electric motors mounted on the front wheels, which provide an additional 201bhp of power, giving a peak power of 756bhp.

The electric motors use power from a flywheel that can spin at up to 36,000 rpm and are fired at the push of a button. The power boost can last for up to eight seconds. The flywheel system uses energy recovered when the driver brakes.

The car is an evolution of the Porsche 918 Spyder that was unveiled at the Geneva motor show last year, with the most notable differences being race-bred tweaks, the roof and the doors. Like the Spyder, it is built from carbonfibre reinforced plastic to keep weight down.

The interior is also an evolution of the Spyders. With leather sitting alongside bare aluminium, Porsche is hinting at how a production interior could look while staying true to this concept car's racing pedigree. Other hints that this car is more production ready than the Spyder include the addition of gearshift lights.

Porsche also confirmed in Detroit that it is planning to build a baby SUV in the near future, which is rumoured to be called the Porsche Cajun.

Click here for a larger view of the car