Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Supercar arrives in 2013

With So Much Anticipation built up around trie 918 concept cars—wantonly brandishing the Spyder and RSR race versions on the show circuit—Porsche would have been borderline unscrupulous not to bring the sexy hybrid into production. As it turns out, Porsche will build the supercar in its Spyder trim, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic monocoque and all. Except for the presence of a new roof (manually operated with removable panels that can be stowed in the front luggage compartment), removal of the side exit exhausts and mounting of side-view mirrors, the showroom model looks to be remarkably similar to the concept. But before you rush to put down a deposit, the 918 Spyder is a bit more expensive than a 911. Listed at $845,000, it's the equivalent of four and an eighth 911 Speedsters. But don't let the numbers deter you, there's so much more than fuzzy math to the 918.
Take, for instance, its output. With a maximum estimated at 718 hp, it comes courtesy of a midship 500-bhp V-8, and two electric motors with a combined 218 hp. Mounted on the front and rear axles, the electric motors act independently and endow the 918 with variable all-wheel drive. Fitted with a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox, the 918 Spyder has some lofty performance targets: 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, a 199-mph top speed and the Nurburgring in under 7 minutes, 30 seconds—that's 2 sec. quicker than the Carrera GT. And don't forget, these numbers are for a plug-in hybrid. Porsche is throwing out efficiency figures of 94 mpg and 16 miles of range on the hybrid's lithium-ion batteries alone. Limited to 918 units, production for the 918 Spyder doesn't start until September 18, 2013 (9-18). Think 2013 holidays, if you're well behaved. For the impatient types, there's the 918 Spyder-edition 911 to hold you over.