Ita4‚¬a4„s official: the plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder is available for order at $845,000, not including shipping and taxes. Deliveries begin November 2013, and Porsche only plans to build 918 of these supercars.
The 918 Spyder has 718 horsepower on tap and a fuel economy of more than 78 mpg based on the European combined driving cycle. The design is derived from the Carrera GT as well as the Porsche 917 and RS Spyder race cars. The production version of this two-seater, based on a carbon fiber monocoque, features a manual roof system with removable roof panels that can be stowed in the front luggage compartment.
The V-8 engine has a displacement exceeding 4.0-liters and output of more than 500 horsepower. The mid-engine power unit is based on the racing engine of the successful Porsche RS Spyder and is matched to a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual clutch transmission.
This powerplant is complemented by two electric motors&8211'one each on the front and rear axle&8211'with a joint mechanical output of at least 218 horsepower. This configuration offers a variable all-wheel drive system with independent control of the propulsion force on both axles.
Powering the electric motors is a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket, delivering an electric-only driving range of around 16 miles on a single charge. Topping up the batteries will take between 3-6 hours depending on the outlet used, but a quick charging option is planned to reduce charging time yet further.
So what will the 918 Spyder be able to do It can sprint from 0-62 mph in just 3.2 seconds and go on to reach a top speed of 199 mph. Porsche predicts that it will be able to lap the Nrburgring in less than seven minutes and 30 seconds, beating the previous Carrera GT but still off the pace of the Nissan GT-R and Corvette ZR1. Note that the top speed in electric-only mode is limited to 94 mph in order to preserve battery life.
But alas, the cara4‚¬a4„s release is still some years away and the attention span of some millionaires may not last that long. In order to keep its customersa4‚¬a4„ interests piqued, the automaker is launching a special edition of its 911 Turbo S.
Dubbed the 911 Turbo S a4‚¬AEdition 918 Spydera4‚¬¯, the special edition car is also limited to just 918 units and will only be offered to customers of the plug-in hybrid 918 Spyder. It features special badging, illuminated door sills and the same acid green trim as seen on the original 918 Spyder concept car. First deliveries of this model are set to roll in June of this year and both Coupe and Cabriolet versions will be offered.
And no, this isna4‚¬a4„t a free gift for those already lucky enough to be able afford the 918 Spyder. It will cost $161,650 for the Coupe and $173,050 for the Cabriolet.
Written by Viknesh Vijayenthiran, this article‚ originally appeared on High Gear Media&'s Motor Authority, one of VentureBeata4‚¬a4„s editorial partners.
[Image courtesy United Pictures via Motor Authority]
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Companies: Porsche
Companies: Porsche
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