It’s been almost half a year since we last heard anything about Porsche‘s 918 Spyder Hybrid supercar. Few details have come forward since the German sports car maker confirmed that it was heading for production, but now we’ve been fed some information to tide us over until the production model comes to fruition.

Published in Porsche’s Christophorus Magazine, the 918 Spyder is destined to make its production debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show and will sport some changes from the concept car we saw back in 2010 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Its powerplant will now be a 4.6L V8 rather than the 3.4L V8 originally announced. And while there’s more displacement, there’s also a ton of new technology to go with it. That includes a central injector mounted directly adjacent to a spark plug, a central oil feed to the crankshaft, a variable-pressure composite oil pump and scavenge pump, forged lightweight pistons from a Formula 1 supplier, a very high compression ratio and variable valve timing, which is a Porsche first.

The new 4.6L V8 is still based on the race-bred V8 found in the original RS Spyder LMP2 race car. Rumors have it that the new motor will produce around 550-hp and that the 918 will loose one of its three electric motors originally seen in the concept. The remaining pair will generate a combined 230-hp, so the combined output should be around 760-hp.

The dry weight of the vehicle is estimated to be 3,700-lbs and for those interested, better start saving up to $845,000.

[Source: Motor Authority]

10. Porsche 918 Spyder: $845,000

The list of the Top 10 most expensive new cars is even more shocking that you might expect. Released by Forbes, you can forget the Ferrari 458 or the $300,000 Lamborghini Aventador because even at the low end of the scale these models start at right around the one million mark.

In 10th place, at $845,000 is Porsche’s upcoming flagship, the 918 Spyder. When it does arrive later this year, it will come powered by a high-revving V8 engine making more than 500 hp, mated to a plug-in hybrid system that adds over 218 hp. Porsche claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, with an incredible 78 mpg rating.

Many embargoes died to bring you this information. Colors, drive modes and performance estimates about the latest über-car from Porsche, the 918 Spyder, have been leaked through internal dealership documents.

The 918 Spyder will initially be available in four monochromatic colors: Carrera White, Black, Platinum Silver Metallic, and Basalt Black. All will have a black interior, but Porsche will add other colors to the palette.

The powertrain is still unchanged from Porsche’s specifications: a gasoline-powered V8 with more than 4.0 liters, and two electric motors. The V8 will produce at least 493 horsepower, while the two electric motors will develop a total of 215 horsepower. With this power comes a PDK transmission with seven cogs.

There will be four drive modes available: E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, and Race Hybrid. E-Power is for maximum fuel efficiency, and uses only the electric engines—Porsche says that the 918 Spyder can travel up to 16 miles solely on electricity. Hybrid is for the sort of day-to-day grocery schlepping that people do in range-topping supercars, while Sport Hybrid and Race Hybrid are the where the excitement happens: Sport is for back-country driving with a rear torque bias, while Race is for “uncompromised control of the entire drive system at the absolute limits of performance.”

With an estimated 0-60 time of 3.1 seconds, we don’t care if it’s powered by sparkles and unicorn kisses (which, actually, would be kind of cool, come to think of it). It is expected to top 199 mph, presumably in California’s HOV access lane. And given the all-encompassing importance of Nürburgring lap times, the 918 Spyder will lap it in approximately 7 minutes and 30 seconds, enough to make you forget to fill in that federal hybrid tax credit on Form 8910.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Porsche 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. Those lucky and wealthy enough will also be given the opportunity to purchase one of just 918, 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder models (Coupe or Cabriolet) – you know, as a beater. With styling inspired by the new supercar, pricing for those models is set at $160,700 for the coupe and $172,100 for the Cabriolet, bringing the total cost just north of a million dollars.

GALLERY: Porsche 918 Spyder Renderings

Included in a less-than-thrilling press release from Porsche today is a photo of what appears to be an early model of the production version of the 918 Spyder.

Porsche first unveiled the vehicle at the Geneva Auto Show this year, stealing the show with the stunning and sophisticated concept. Several months later, Porsche confirmed the car would see production.

Now comes this photo as a part of a larger press release detailing a 150 million Euro investment in the automaker’s Weissach research and development center in Germany. The 1:3 scale cay model has some notable differences from the production car, including some minor adjustments up front, some changes to the design of the doors and the use of a single, rather than a double, exhaust pipe coming out the side.

Last week Porsche announced it was hiring 100 engineers for the facility in electronics fields – likely to begin its hybrid push that will see the expansion of hybrid models (including sports cars), as well as the launch of the new flagship 918 Spyder.

Official release after the jump:

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A report in trade publication Automotive News suggests that Porsche is planning a hybrid variant of every model in its lineup. Porsche’s Cayenne Hybrid is the first Cayenne sold to the public, while the 911 GT3.R has successfully campaigned in high level sports car racing in Europe.

Next up is a Panamera Hybrid, as well as the 918 Spyder supercar, a low volume halo model for the brand. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, head of engine development for Porsche, didn’t specify a time frame for hybrid variants of the Boxster, Cayman or 911. Porsche is hoping that hybrids will help them meet C02 targets set by the European Union for 2015.

Porsche is also looking into weight reduction and smaller engines, including four-cylinder powerplants, as a means of creating more efficient vehicles.

[Source: Automotive News]

After months of nothing but static shots of Porsche‘s 918 Spyder hybrid, there is finally real proof that the car is capable of moving under its own power.

While we only see the 918 Spyder driving for a couple short moments, the 3.4L V8 makes an interesting sound at low revs, sounding a bit like a four-cylinder with a big exhaust Ferrari F430.

The 918 made its first appearance stateside at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, where prospective owners could fly in on their private jets to the viewing area at the Monterey Jet Center, check the car out and then leave if they chose to. That’s a life we’ll never know.

[Source: Automotive Addicts]

Hit the jump to check out videos of the Porsche 918 Spyder in action

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Autocar is reporting that Porsche is set to launch 8 new vehicles by 2014, including new versions of the 911, Boxster and Cayman as well as a 928 luxury car and the 918 Spyder.

Due in 2011 are hybrid and diesel versions of the Panamera sedan, followed by a Cayman Clubsport, featuring less weight and a highly tuned chassis, but with less emphasis on raw power. A re-worked 911, also with more fuel efficient powerplants and less weight, should bow in early 2011, perhaps at the Geneva Auto Show, while a new Boxster and Cayman range are due in 2012.

2013 marks the debut of an all new range of product, with the oft-rumored “baby Porsche” based on the VW BlueSport concept is expected to bow, as is the Panamera based 928 – which has yet to be green-lit but is proving popular with some management types.  In 2014, expect to see a refreshed Cayenne and the long awaited 918 Spyder. Insiders say that Porsche really does need until 2014 to iron out the kinks in their mega-buck supercar flagship.

[Source: Autocar]

Porsche has green-lit their hybrid supercar concept, the 918 Spyder, for production. The 918 Spyder, able to get 78 mpg while hitting 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, is expected to cost $630,000 by the time it hits the streets. We wonder if the much hyped $7,500 tax credit will apply, but when you’re this deep into the price bracket, it scarcely matters.

While purists may scoff at the notion of a Porsche hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder is a very significant car, whether you love it or hate it. The 918 shows that the word hybrid does not have to mean “boring econobox”, and that even sports car makers like Porsche have capitulated to the “green fever” that has gripped our society over the last decade.

[Source: Porsche]

Hit the jump to read the official press release

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The Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance is possibly the world’s most exclusive collector car show, attracting celebrities like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Ralph Lauren. The venue is the perfect place for Porsche to show off its upcoming 918 Spyder, which has been all-but-confirmed for production.

Porsche is looking to find 1000 people to express interest in the 918 Spyder, and so far have garnered 900 on that list. Pebble Beach’s ultra-high-net worth patrons can surely yield that number, allowing Porsche to put their hybrid supercar flagship into a very limited production run. The 718 horsepower roadster will also be shown close to Silicon Valley, home of the Tesla roadster and many wealthy folks with environmentally conscious views.

[Source: Autocar]