Porsche Green Lights 718-HP 918 Spyder; Hybrid Said to Get 78 Miles Per Gallon
By Scott Doggett July 29, 2010
The Supervisory Board at Porsche this week gave the green light for series development of the 918 Spyder, the 718-horsepower all-wheel-drive hybrid sports car with outstanding fuel economy and claimed 3.2-seconds 0-62 mph quickness.
Taken from drawing to 2010 Geneva Auto Show in less than five months, the 918 Spyder mixes a 500-hp, 9,200-rpm, 3.4-liter gasoline V8 with two electric motors for a combined 718 hp. Porsche has calculated that it could be quicker than the old Carrera GT around the Nordschleife.
The 918 Spyder, one of three hybrid models Porsche presented in Geneva, can go up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) on electric power. The two-seater reportedly limits gasoline consumption to three liters per 100 kilometers (78.4 miles per gallon) and emits just 70 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.
No time line has been given for when the car will be ready for the road, but Green Car Advisor doesn't expect the first production models before the spring of 2012. Pricing has not been announced, but Bloomberg news service has reported it could cost $630,000. Porsche said more details will be disclosed in coming weeks.
LEAVE A COMMENT
I dare Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear not to like it!
He will probably say it is a warmed over Prius!
I think the Top Gear crew will love it, as long as it handles well. There's no doubt it looks cool, and will accelerate like a bat out of hell, so the verdict will come down to the feel and overall refinement. At $600k+, it better be superb. Most people spending that kind of money don't give a rat's ass about fuel economy, and frankly, neither would I (if I could afford this car). It's not like I'd be driving my supercar on a 1k mile road trip, anyway.
ADD A COMMENT