First shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show 2010, Porsche’s highly innovative and deliciously proportioned Hybrid Vehicle 918 Spyder is now available for order.
Powered by a 500 hp V8 assisted by two electric motors, no more than 918 units of the new two-seater supercar will be made with production slated to begin in September 2013. The asking price: US$845,000.
The 918 Spyder’s plug-in hybrid vehicle system is made up of a mid-mounted, 4.0 liter, 500 hp V8 engine based on the Porsche RS Spyder racing engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – which add another 218 hp to the package.
Despite this wealth of horsepower, Porsche estimates that the 918 Spyder will consume just 3.0 L/100 km based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
Preliminary performance specs put the car’s top track speed of 199mph with acceleration from zero to 60mph taking approximately 3.1 seconds.
The hybrid vehicle will be able to operate with electric motors mode (though with a limited range of around 16 miles) at speeds up to 94 mph “for limited distances” and Porsche estimates that charging via a 110V/10A outlet will take around seven hours. The company will also investigate a quick-charge option in the lead up to production.
Porsche says that the production version of the 918 Spyder hybrid vehicle “remains faithful to the 2010 concept car” but will rather than the open-top configuration shown in Geneva, it will include a manual roof system that can removed and stowed in the front luggage compartment.
The production run will see the first hybrid vehicle delivered in the same sequence they are ordered and delivery is expected to begin in November 2013.
