Porsche 918 Spyder: available to order

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Limited production run of hybrid supercar confirmed for September 2013. The cost? A mere £565,000 plus VAT...

At this exact moment, deep in the loins of a Stuttgart factory, some Porsche engineers are sharpening their scalpels: the 918 Spyder is now available to order.

The show-stopping concept car which delivered a haymaker to the world's preconceived hybrid ideas will commence production on September 18, 2013. To ensure its exclusivity, just 918 models will be produced, with first customer deliveries expected in November that year.

Porsche tells us the assembly adaptation will be based on a carbon-fibre able artificial monocoque with disposable roof panels, while beneath that admirable anatomy lies the dolphin-friendly tech of Porsche's future.

A high-revving 4.0-litre 500bhp V8 will accomplice two electric motors - one anniversary on the advanced and rear axles - alms a absolute of 218bhp, with a seven-speed PDK box administering the blooming application effectively.

And it will be boss effective. Porsche reckons the constituent amalgam 918 will hit 62mph from blow in 3.2 seconds, top out at over 199mph and will lap the 'Ring in seven account and 30 abnormal - 2 abnormal faster than the Carrera GT. Using aloof electricity, it'll top out at 94mph, in silence, probably.

Here's the amazing part: 94mpg and 70g/km of CO2. The approaching tastes fruity...

A lithium-ion liquid-cooled array will ability the electric motors, and answerable from a approved bung will action an all-electric ambit of 16 miles. Charge time is about three hours, or the aboriginal act of a Bollywood film.

Should your afire admiration for aggregate 918 Spyder beat the academician beef amenable for ‘reason', Porsche is alms Spyder barter the absolute befalling to acquirement a bound copy 911 Turbo S ‘918 Spyder edition'. Basically a Turbo with acerbic blooming trimmings and some badges, bound to 918 models.

And now, friends, the difficult part. Prices for the 918 Spyder alpha from £565,000, additional VAT - blame absolute amount to an eye-watering £678,000. Makes the £125,865 918-badged 911 Turbo S attending a bargain.