(Porsche)
Porsche has begun taking orders for what will likely turn out to be the world’s first plug-in hybrid supercar.
First revealed as a concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the 918 Spyder combines a 500 hp V8 with two electric motors, each good for an additional 109 hp, that can propel the all-wheel-drive two-door to a projected top speed of 199 mph while delivering a European- rated 78 mpg.
This kind of efficiency is made possible by a battery pack that can be charged via a home electrical outlet, which provides up to 16 miles of battery-only range at speeds up to 94 mph.
The weight of the 918 Spyder and capacity of its battery have not been revealed (based on a charge time of 7 hours it may hold between 10 and 16 kilowatt-hours of electricity), but a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds would make this one of the quickest production cars ever produced, and certainly the quickest hybrid. Of course, you get what you pay for.
List price for the 918 Spyder is an astonishing $845,000, underscoring the cost of the advanced technology involved to produce it and making it the most expensive production car that Porsche has ever offered.
As if the price wasn’t enough, to help ensure the exclusivity of the 918 Spyder, Porsche is promising that it will only build 918 of them, starting in September 2013. So even if you have the cash on hand, you’ll have to wait.
No need to fret, however, because German automaker has something to tide you over in the meantime – that is if you don’t mind adding an extra $160G to the bill. Customers who order a 918 Spyder also have the opportunity to buy a special edition of the company’s iconic 911, which carries the same serial number as their environmentally-friendlier supercar, and a host of styling cues that tie the two together.
The aptly-named 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder is available in coupe or convertible versions and will also be limited to just 918 units, making it something of a collector’s item of its own.
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