Sports Car Fans Rejoice: Porsche to Release Hybrid Model

Soon potential car buyers will no longer have to decide between having the spectacular sports car of their dreams, or the fuel-saving hybrid that doesn’t look quite as fetching. Porsche is now jumping on the hybrid bandwagon with the plug-in 918 Spyder.

With a design mirroring that of the Carrera GT, the 917, and the RS Spyder race cars, the 918 Spyder features a 500-plus horsepower V8 engine alongside two electric motors with an additional 218 horsepower. In terms of fuel economy, it’s estimated that the vehicle will consume 3.0L/100 km with a capacity of more than 4.0 liters.

The electrical energy for the vehicle will be contained in a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be recharged by plugging it into any standard outlet. Charge times will vary, but in the United States it is expected to take around seven hours. If the car is driven strictly using its electrical capabilities it has an estimated distance of over 16 miles.

Currently, the model contains two seats and a manual roof system that allows the panels to be removed and stored in the front luggage compartment.

Planning on grabbing one for yourself? You might want to think twice. In order to jack up the asking price, Porsche will only be making a total of 918 cars. The asking price in the U.S. will be undeniably high ($845,000 to be exact), although this doesn’t even include the destination and handling charges.

Production for this killer sports car turned hybrid will begin in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in September, 2013—plenty of time to save until then, right?

Posted on March 25th in Solar Products by Kayla.