Porsche says its dealers will begin taking orders for the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar, following an enthusiastic response from would-be customers. The car was first shown as a concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and a racing version caused a stir at this year’s Detroit auto show.
The move to take orders is a step toward production of the car, which is slated to begin at Porsche’s Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen factory on Sept. 18, 2013 (9/18). The company says it will limit production to 918 cars with a base price in the U.S. of $845,000, excluding the freight charge.
The 918 road car will combine a 500-horsepower V8 engine, two electric motors with an additional 218 horsepower, and plug-in-hybrid technology aimed at boosting fuel efficiency and overall performance.
The company estimates the 918 will use three liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, based on the New European Driving Cycle, or NEDC. Official EPA fuel-economy estimates will be available just before the first customer cars begin arriving in the U.S. near the end of 2013. Based on conversion tables, which Porsche advises against using when judging its hybrid vehicles, the 918 should get a little over 78 miles per gallon in the U.S.
Porsche points out that European and U.S. testing standards for fuel economy differ enough that straight comparisons can be wildly inaccurate. In the case of the company’s hybrid Cayenne SUV and Panamera sedan, cutting the number by 25% or so gets you closer to the truth. So let’s look for a Prius-like 60 mpg from the 918 when it gets here.
