Update: Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsche has just released this image of the production version of the 918 Spyder. Looks tremendous!

It will officially be a plug-in hybrid and will get a 4.0 litre V8 along with two electric motors that produces a combined 218 horsepower. That’s a total of 718 horsepower in a car that supposedly gets 3L/100 kms! Very impressive!

The 918 still hasn’t been rated yet by U.S efficiency standards, but we should still expect fairly impressive numbers. On top of that, it will have a 0-100 time of 3.1 seconds with top speed being 320 km/h. What’s even more imrpessive than that is the 918 Spyder can apparently run on both electric motors up to 150 kph before the gas engine kicks in.

If this all sounds good to you, get on the phone to your local Porsche dealer ASAP because Porsche also said they will only build 918 for the entire world. Yeah, very limited production. Oh, and it will also cost you about $845,000.

Official: Porsche Will Build 918 Spyder!

YES!

Thanks to all those luck enough to afford a 918 Spyder writing in to Porsche. It’s because of that that Porsche was able to build a business case to build the 918 Spyder and now it has officially been confirmed. It will indeed enter production, albeit in limited numbers.

I think this is going to be the most significant car for the next five years, despite what GM may tell you about its Volt (see my post below for why I have doubts). While I appreciate the Volt and am very intrigued by it, I think Porsche is going to truely upstage it with the 918 Spyder. Being able to make a car that can get from 0-100 in 3.9 seconds, emit just 70 g/km of carbon dioxide all while getting 3 L/100 kms is astonishing. Mind boggling even. On top of that, the 918 Spyder will be able to keep classic handling abilities that Porsche is known for and will be quite the looker if the concept is any indication.

Pricing is the downside, but that’s the case for any supercar. It is expected to start around $650,000 US. Yikes. But considering the technology packed into it and what it’s capable of, I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. Also this is likely the reason why it will be produced in limited numbers. I’d be surprised if Porsche was able to make any profit on it too, actually.

People are already saying that this could be the successor to the amazing Carrera GT. And if the history of the Carrera GT is any indication, the 918 Spyder should have no problem fitting in with the big boys.

[Canadian Driver]