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918?! Call 911! Porsche prices 918 Spyder at a heart-stopping $845k

Porsche has officially released pricing for its upcoming 2013 model lineup (pdf) and boy is it a doozy. While it’s exciting to peruse Porsche’s pricing for the Cayman S ($63,800), 991 Carrera S ($105,630), and the Cayenne Turbo S ($146,000), the real revelation comes in the form of the official MSRP for the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar, of which only 918 examples will be made, to the tune of $845,000 a pop.

As a quick recap, the Porsche 918  Spyder will feature both a gasoline V8 engine, two electric motors, and a 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. According to Porsche, the 918 will be capable of sprinting from 0-60 in just 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 210 miles per hour. Amazingly, the electric motors alone are said to rocket the sporty plug-in hybrid to speeds beyond more conventional hybrids — think up to 94 mph.

Of course, if a 4.6-liter V8 and a pair of electric motors producing a combined 795 horsepower and 552 pound-feet of torque isn’t enough, potential lucky bastards… er, customers, can opt for an upgraded Weissach trim package that includes an even lighter-weight carbon fiber bodywork (nearly 80 pounds lighter), magnesium wheels, and other race-oriented upgrades including aerodynamic tweaks and flame-resistant upholstery.

While the standard 918 (and we use that term very loosely; there is nothing “standard about Porsche’s big bad green machine) will likely be just as at home on the track as it the country club, the Weissach trim package is meant for enthusiasts who truly intend to put the hybrid-electric supercar through its paces. Assuming the extra $84,000 doesn’t scare them off, of course. That brings the grand total to $929,000, which as our accountants inform us is but a few finely trimmed nose hairs under $1M.

Of course destination charges will also factor into the price, and Porsche charges a modest $950 for U.S. bound sports cars and $975 for the Cayenne and Panamera Gran Turismo – chump change really in the grand scheme of things.

Production for the 918 Spyder is said to being at the end of September with the first few examples rolling out to owners by the end of this year. Until then, feel free to salivate all over the photo gallery above. 

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As if it couldn’t get any better, Porsche is already planning the next-gen Panamera
porsches modular standard platform panamera

The goal for the Porsche's Modular Standard (MSB) platform is to drop 200 pounds - or 1/3rd the weight of an average American - from the current Panamera. This will likely achieved through the use of an aluminum frame and carbon fiber body panels.
Volkswagen Group will also use the Porsche-designed MSB chassis for the next-gen Bentley Continental lineup. Back in 2012, when the MSB platform was introduced it was as seen as a viable platform. Now, though, Porsche has found a way to utilize the maligned platform and is now giving is a glimpse at the engines it might support.
Hopefully these drivetrains will not have the same problems currently ailing Porsche Gt3 owners. To its credit, the MSB engines should be more slightly less potent than that of the explosive Gt3.
No official specs have been released on the forthcoming V6 and V8 engines but they will surely feature direct injection and the best technology Porsche has to offer.
The next generation Porsche Panamera is due to launch in 2017 and will be the perfect platform to showcase the new - and certainly more powerful - Porsche engines.
We already love the current Panamera. And the prospects of an even stiffer, more powerful model has us weak at the knees. We'll be following this story closely so be sure to check back soon for more Porsche MSB news.

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Bad news for Tesla is good new for you; Porsche is developing an electric sports car
porsche electric sports car rumored boxster e  feature

Tesla Motors might now be seen as a rival for luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but it was originally a rival for Porsche.
Tesla's first production model, after all, was the Lotus Elise-based Roadster. That electric sports car may be out of production, but Porsche is reportedly considering an answer to it.
Porsche CEO Matthias Muller told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport that the carmaker is "constantly developing EV technology."
This actually isn't too surprising. Porsche has already demonstrated its interest in green speed with the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid. A fully-electric sports car would allow it to take the technology one step further, and could be a smart strategic move.
In fact, Porsche built three prototype Boxster E electric sports cars for use in a pilot program three years ago. Similar to the program undertaken by BMW with the MINI E and ActiveE, the cars were driven around Stuttgart, Germany to gather real-world data on electric car usage.
The Boxster E had two electric motors (one for each axle), which produced a combined 240 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. That was enough for a respectable 0 to 62 mph time of 5.3 seconds.
Porsche's corporate sibling, Audi, is also getting more serious about both electric cars and plug-in hybrids, so there might be an opportunity for the two brands to pool resources.
Like Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce, Porsche may also have to embrace electrification to meet stricter emissions standards, even if its customers can afford to pay for lots of expensive fuel.
However, unlike a luxury sedan, a sports car needs to be more than powerful and efficient. The main hangup of an electric Porsche sports car might be the extra weight of the battery pack, which could affect handling.
It will be interesting to see if Porsche attacks that problem head-on, or deploys its first all-electric powertrain in an SUV or sedan instead. Hopefully it will figure something out, just in case Tesla decides to build another Roadster.

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Porsche will replace every 911 GT3 engine to fix fire issue
2014 porsche 911 gt3 engine fire recall  feature

The 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 is one of the most technologically advanced cars on the road.
Still, nobody's perfect. Accordingly, Porsche recalled all 785 2014 GT3s due to potential engine fires. Two cars in Europe caught fire, and Porsche told the remaining owners to stop driving their cars immediately.
However, Porsche has found a solution: It will replace each car's engine.
The company said so in a letter to owners dug up by Autoweek, and it's certainly one of the most thorough ways to complete a recall ever conceived by a mainstream carmaker.
The 2014 911 GT3 uses a new 3.8-liter flat-six; the first time since the car's inception that Porsche has designed a new engine for it. The company says it's traced the fire problem to a loosened piston-rod screw connection, which can damage the crankcase.
Porsche is currently testing a better screw, and when it's finished, it will begin yanking the engines from customer cars and putting in new ones.
While owners may be annoyed about not being able to drive their expensive new sports cars, it's hard to argue with a carmaker that will go to that length to correct the problem.
Owners could have even come out ahead if their cars were a little older. A new engine would be a pleasant surprise for a car with a few miles on it, but the handful of 2014 GT3s in customer hands probably haven't had to time accumulate much mileage.
It's also best to be cautious when dealing with performance of the GT3's caliber.
When working properly, that 475 horsepower flat-sic can propel the GT3 to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.3 seconds, and on to a top speed of 195 mph.

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