Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid: The world's most expensive hybrid
If you have a need for eco-friendly speed, and money is no object in your life, then you should head to your local Porsche dealer. The German automaker announced today that it is taking orders for the gorgeous 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid. The cost: a mere $845,000 in the U.S.
The supercar, which was originally seen at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, has some powerful numbers to justify (sort of) that price tag, of course. The car can go from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and tops out at 199 mph.
A 500-horsepower V-8 engine powers the beast, with two electric motors — one at each end — providing another 218 hp. The 918 can run on gas, electric power, or a combination, with the electric-only mode lasting for about 16 miles. At normal driving speeds (even Porsche drivers have to follow the speed limit!), the plug-in gets 78 mpg.
Like its concept, the production version will be made from a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic monocoque. Though this car will also have a manual roof system with removable panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment, Porsche said.
On a regular 110V/10A power outlet in the United States, the car should take about seven hours to charge.
Deliveries begin November 2013, but if you want one hurry, since only 918 of these supercars will be built.
The 918 is just one of the several ridiculously expensive plug-in cars that are coming out of auto industry. Mercedes-Benz is set to launch the all-electric version of the SLS Gullwing -- AMG SLS E-Cell -- in 2013, while BMW recently announced the i8, plug-in hybrid.
Gas prices are clearly not an issue for the set who forks out over 800 K for a car, but it's nice to see premium brands coming out with green performance cars, since those technologies will eventually make it down to more base level models. It also gives environmentally-friendly millionaires an option to ride a car that's more up their speed, especially considering the amount of gas that would typically be burned to get to 200 mph on a regular internal-combustion engine car.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com