Car lovers clamour over new Porsche concept

Porsche buyers clamouring for production version of 918 Spyder Concept.

Good news this week for supercar shoppers keen to get their hands on the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept, with Porsche reporting that it has received nearly 900 "serious enquiries" from potential buyers.

Speaking with Britain's Autocar last month, Porsche supremo Michael Macht said that while the 918 is technically a concept, the company would consider putting it into limited production if there was genuine interest in the market.

"There is no-one inside Porsche who doesn't want to build the 918," he said. "The response has been marvellous; we will ask buyers to sign letters of intent."

Macht and his team have set the bar at 1000 cars. With 900 buyers apparently nailed in already, it seems the 918 will be on the road soon enough. The question, of course, is one of price. For now, Porsche is remaining tight-lipped on that subject.

The 918 Spyder draws power from a hybrid system made up of a 373kW V8 and two axle-mounted electric motors offering a combined output of 160kW.

Thanks to the V8 and the additional all-wheel-drive poke provided by the electric motors, the 918 Spyder reaches 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 320km/h.