Porsche Releases Test Photos of 918 Hybrid Hypercar On Tuesday, Porsche announced that testing of its long-awaited 918 Spyder hybrid was under way. The plug-in supercar is slated to go into production in September 2013 and, according to a Porsche media release, the first customers to meet the $845,000 price of entry can expect delivery before the end of next year. Only 918 vehicles will be produced. Reached by telephone, Gary Fong, a Porsche spokesman, said the tally of preordered models was not available. Accompanying Tuesday's release were photographs of a 918 Spyder prototype on a test track. Although mildly camouflaged, the sleek and slippery form of the black, targa-top sports coupe closely reflected that of the 918 RSR hybrid racecar concept unveiled at the 2011 Detroit auto show. Porsche said the white accents pouring out like flames from the prototype's headlamps and front wheel wells hark back to Porsche 917 racecars, but for Americans, they may more immediately conjure memories of hot rods from the 1950s. The 918, ultimately, is a technology showcase for systems that may eventually reach series-production Porsche models. The vehicle's hybrid powertrain is the centerpiece of the car's advanced hardware, combining a high-performance internal combustion engine with two electric motors, one on the front axle and one in the drivetrain, for more than 770 horsepower, Porsche asserts. Last year, Porsche identified the internal-combustion engine as a 500-horsepower V-8 and pegged the combined output of the two electric motors at 218 horsepower. The earlier data cited a zero-to-60-m.p.h. time of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 199 m.p.h. Fuel economy was said to be roughly 3 liters per 100 kilometers on the European test cycle. Fuel-economy estimates for models bound for North America have not been announced. The powertrain rides inside a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic monocoque body structure with a unit carrier. Other advanced features of the 918 include fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and an upward venting exhaust system. Porsche, flashing its trademark corporate restraint, said initial results from the track tests were in line with expectations.