It's official. Porsche will produce a limited edition run of the Porsche 918 Spyder, introduced recently as a concept design. As often happens with concepts, it was met with such positive headlines by us auto writers and you sportscar fans that Porsche decided to manufacture it.
The Porsche 918 Spyder is an ultra-high-performance mid-engine design that's also a plug-in hybrid. The concept was introduced at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and at Auto Pekin in Bejing, and made headlines around the world.
This will be the second Porsche hybrid, but the first -- the Porsche Cayenne hybrid -- is a 'regular' hybrid, not a plug in, and it does not get near the estimated 94.1 mpg of this first Porsche plug-in hybrid. Yes -- you read that correcly. 94.1 mpg. A 94.1 mpg Porsche sportscar. That's about double the mpg the Toyota Prius gets. And the Prius doesn't launch 0-60 in 3.2 seconds.
Porsche will be releasing more details in the next few weeks and months, including price, which is likely to be in the low six figures. That would place it in the same garage as the all-electric Tesla Roadster, which sells for around $108,000 and is based on the Lotus. So here's a question -- if the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid and the Tesla Roadster are the same price, which one would you buy?
Comments
I think this is the most amazing car I've ever seen. I highly doubt it will be the price of the Tesla though. I honestly see it being around $400,000 and up. This car is going to replace Porsche's Carrera GT, which was $400,000. It is more advanced, much more fuel efficient, and has a faster track time than the Carrera GT. Porsche has an empty spot for a super car, the 918 Spyder is going to fill that spot.
agree with Alex, they will not be in the same price range. Also Tesla and 918 aren't direct competitors. Tesla is 100% electric driven... not a hybrid.
I agree with Alex: the price appears doubtful. If compared to the Tesla, I'd trust the 918 more - and consider trading in my 911 4S in a heartbeat!
Stephan -- Hang onto your 911 4S. One website is reporting the price of the new 918 Spyder will be $630,000, and we don't even know yet whether it's 4WD. I drove a 911 4S in the Porsche Winter Driving School in Colorado, and it's a great car for snow and ice.
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