Porsche 918 Spyder is go

Following its showing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and at Auto China in Bejing, Porsche has now decided to develop a limited series production version of the 918 Spyder.

Part of the company’s ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance’ strategy, the 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid. In concept form it featured a 493 bhp (368 kW / 500 PS) V8 engine, plus electric motors that produced an extra 215 bhp (160 kW / 218 PS).

With all that power, 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration was said to take just 3.2 seconds, while the 918’s top speed was 199 mph (320 km/h).

However, the real headline numbers were CO2 emissions of only 70 g/km, and an astonishing combined cycle fuel consumption of 94.1 mpg (equivalent to the magic 3.0 l/100 km).

It remains to be seen quite how many of those performance parameters - and the car’s styling details - make it into production. For the moment, Porsche are just saying that further details will be disclosed in the coming months.

That just leaves the question of price. Latest estimates are that the 918 Spyder will cost €500,000 (around £418,000 for UK buyers or $655,000 in the US).