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20 Nov

The Porsche 918 Spyder production line will blow your mind – part one

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  • Josh Barnett
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Last night, Porsche announced that after just over one year of production, the Porsche 918 Spyder has officially sold out. On a recent trip to Porscheplatz, we were lucky enough to get a tour of the 918 Spyder’s incredible production line.

With the announcement that production of Porsche’s game-changing hypercar is coming to an end, our behind-the-scenes photos celebrates the men and women who build the 918 Spyder. Soon they will return to the relative normality of the regular sports car production line.

Ever wondered how much effort it takes to built a Porsche 918 Spyder? Scroll down and find out in the first half of our mind-blowing two-part gallery. Enjoy:

An eerily peaceful single room above the standard sports car production line, an unlikely venue for the birth of Porsche's first hypercar.
An eerily peaceful single room above the standard sports car production line, an unlikely venue for the birth of Porsche’s first hypercar.
The Porsche 918 Spyder starts out as a bare carbon monocoque chassis before every component is hand fitted by a team of specialist engineers.
The Porsche 918 Spyder starts out as a bare carbon monocoque chassis before every component is hand fitted by a team of specialist engineers.
The 918 production line workers are the best of the best at Zuffenhausen. They wear their bespoke black-and-green uniform with immense pride.
The 918 production line workers are the best of the best at Zuffenhausen. They wear their bespoke black-and-green uniform with immense pride.
The attention to detail is incredible. It takes one person 40 minutes to hand-stitch the leather to each sun visor. Note the electric green thread.
The attention to detail is incredible. It takes one person 40 minutes to hand-stitch the leather to each sun visor. Note the electric green thread.
Only 918 people will get to hold this steering wheel (once fitted with all its internals).
Only 918 people will get to hold this steering wheel (once fitted with all its internals).
The 918 Spyder's production line is a world away from the mechanised hustle and bustle below.
The 918 Spyder’s production line is a world away from the mechanised hustle and bustle below.
In typically Teutonic fashion, everything is labelled and stored in a precise location for ease of access.
In typically Teutonic fashion, everything is labelled and stored in a precise location for ease of access.
Just a few of the bolts needed to fix together all 918 Porsche 918 Spyders, all neatly labelled.
Just a few of the bolts needed to fix together all 918 Porsche 918 Spyders ‘Dichtring’ translates as ‘sealing ring’.
Each 4,593cc V8 engine is assembled by a single technician. When complete, it will produced 608hp at 8,700rpm
Each 4,593cc V8 engine is assembled by a single technician. When complete, it will produced 608hp at 8,700rpm
The top exit exhausts have become one of the Porsche 918 Spyder's idiosyncratic signatures. Like everything here, they're also a work of automotive art.
The top exit exhausts have become on of the Porsche 918 Spyder’s idiosyncratic signatures. Like everything here, they’re also a work of automotive art.
Part One 11
Three V8s await their respective chariots. There’s a total of 1,824hp in this photo, and that’s without the hybrid electric units.
Part One 12
These delicate valves and valve springs await the arrival of a new cylinder head.
Once completed, the engine is mounted up to its carbon fibre subframe, which can be wheeled onto the next stage of the assembly process.
Once completed, the engine is mounted up to its carbon fibre subframe, which can be wheeled onto the next stage of the assembly process.
From silence, music is born. The engine building area will eventually give birth to 918 V8s, all with an upper rev limit of 9,150rpm.
From silence, music is born. The engine building area will eventually give birth to 918 V8s, all with an upper rev limit of 9,150rpm.
The next stage on the production line sees the carbon tubs readied for their respective power unit.
The next stage on the production line sees the carbon tubs readied for their respective power unit.
This bare Porsche 918 Spyder awaits its engine. Porsche calls the mating of the two "the marriage".
This bare Porsche 918 Spyder awaits its engine. Porsche calls the mating of the two “the marriage”.
With the engine's "marriage" complete. Each Porsche 918 Spyder continues down the production line to have its suspension fitted, as you'll see in part two...
With the engine’s “marriage” complete. Each Porsche 918 Spyder continues down the production line to have its suspension fitted, as you’ll see in part two…

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