Get more: Porsche 918 Spyder at AutoGuide.comPorsche has released full details on its upcoming flagship sportscar, pricing the hybrid machine at an astronomical $845,000. Combining the original concept with Porsche's ongoing hybrid race car technology the carbon chassis 918 will get a "high revving" V8 engine making in excess of 500-hp mated to a plug-in hybrid drive system with two electric motors, adding "at least" an additional 218-hp. Those motors will be attached, one at each axle, effectively making the 918 an AWD machine.
The car will hit 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds claims Porsche with a top speed of 199 mph. Porsche is also reiterating that it will be able to lap the Nurburgring below 7:30 seconds, topping the Carrera GT by at least 2 seconds.
As for the car's hybrid performance, Porsche says it will achieve an incredible 78-mpg. (European test cycle). Official EPA fuel economy numbers won't be available until much closer to the car's on-sale date in 2013. As a plug-in hybrid, Porsche says the exotic sports car will recharged in roughly 7 hours using a conventional household outlet and will provide 16 miles of emissions-free range, up to speeds of 94 mph.
A technology teaser, Porsche has yet to release every detail of the car, but other pertinent info includes the fact the car 918 will use Porsche's 7-speed PDK transmission and the V8 engine will be larger than 4.0-liters.
With the new info comes a set of new renderings of what the production model is expected to look like, as well as confirmation that it will feature a manually removable roof that can be stored int he front luggage compartment.
Porsche is now accepting orders for the 918, with deliveries set for 2013.
Very nice. Can't wait to see actual photos.