The World’s Fastest Hybrid

This is not usually the image that comes to mind when people hear the words “plug-in hybrid” – but nonetheless, Porsche’s $845,000, 887-combined-horsepower (electric and gasoline motors working in tandem) 918 Spyder is just that.

The second plug-in Hybrid Porsche (following the more pedestrian Panamera S E-hybrid), the 918 debuted at Frankfurt in 2013 and was styled by Porsche chief designer Michael Mauer, who has been with the company since 2004. The car went on sale in November, 2013, in Europe and in North America during the summer of 2014. It is seen here at its dealer introduction that year.

The main power comes from a 608-hp 4.6 liter V8, derived from the architecture of the Porsche RS Spyder LMP cars that were active from 2005 to 2011. Two electric motors, contribute an additional 279 hp. The larger of these motors delivers 154 hp and acts as the car’s main electrical generator, acting on the rear wheels. The smaller motor delivers 125 hp to the front wheels. Fuel consumption is reportedly an astonishing 78 mpg.