Be still our beating hearts.
Porsche announced this week that it will go ahead with plans to produce the 918 hybrid supercar. The droolworthy concept vehicle was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show.
According to Wired, the Porsche board approved the project based on “overwhelming response from the public and customers.†The company had said it would consider building the car if at least 1,000 people were interested in buying one. With a sticker price somewhere above $600,000, we're not sure who these customers are, but we wish we were among them.
With a 500-horsepower V8 and a pair of electric motors that deliver another 281 horsepower, the 918 can reach a top speed of 198 mph. More important, the company says that the gas-electric drivetrain is good for 78 mpg.
Whether all these claims are verified remains to be seen, but they won't impact our opinion that this is the lustiest hybrid ever built.