Porsche’s 918 Spyder is already one of the fastest cars ever produced, but incredibly customers can opt for a factory-installed package that boosts performance of the car even further. The package draws its name from the German town of Weissach, where Porsche's main R&D facility is located, and it was equipped to the 918 Spyder that racing driver Marc Lieb drove around the Nürburgring in a record-setting time of 6:57.

The Weissach package’s main focus is reduced weight, helping to lower the 918 Spyder’s curb mass from 3,715 pounds to 3,616 pounds. Specific measures include the addition of magnesium wheels, a lighter brake design, ceramic wheel bearings, and titanium bolts for the chassis.

There are also add-on parts, mainly to aid aerodynamics, and even a thin film coating for the exterior instead of regular paint. One of these coatings features a classic Martini Racing theme.

The end result is that the 918 Spyder with the Weissach package will accelerate to 60 mph from rest in just 2.5 seconds, making it just as quick off the line as the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and quicker than the McLaren P1. The 918 Spyder is likely to be quicker than the Ferrari LaFerrari, too, when it comes to 0-60 mph acceleration due to its all-wheel-drive traction. Top speed is 214 mph, which is the same as the standard car.

Production of the 918 Spyder is now underway, with Porsche limiting the number of examples to a maximum 918 units. Pricing in the U.S. starts at $845,000, which gets you the standard car complete with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 4.6-liter V-8 and two electric motors. System output for the 918 Spyder is 887 horsepower and 940 pound-feet of torque.

Featured below is a video outlining the chassis design of the 918 Spyder and another looking at the powertrain.

_______________________________________

Follow Motor Authority on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.