Porsche takes orders for its most expensive model

With just 918 vehicles being built and an asking price of $1.5 million per car, owning a 918 Spyder will be exclusive on several levels. Photo / Supplied

Porsche has started taking orders for its 918 Spyder hybrid sports car, its most expensive model ever, which will will sell in Europe for €768,062 euros ($1.5 million). The company will limit production to just 918 vehicles.

The first cars, available for ordering starting this week, will be delivered to buyers beginning in November 2013, the carmaker said. The two-seater will sprint from zero to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 320km/h. It is powered by a 373kW V8 and electric drive-systems that allow the vehicle to run more than 25km on electric power.

Porsche is developing the plug-in hybrid vehicle at a research facility near Stuttgart. The car will be built at the main Zuffenhausen plant.

Porsche plans to add models with a goal of doubling the company's annual sales to as many as 150,000 vehicles over the medium term, and benefit from savings from the planned combination with Volkswagen AG.

The Spyder hybrid is based on the Carrera GT supercar and the 917 and RS Spyder. The car will have a safety frame reinforced with carbon fibre and a manual roof system with removable panels that can be stowed in the front luggage compartment, says Porsche.

But a report in the United States says that actually buying the 918 Spyder will take some serious doing.

First of all, there is the US$845,000 ($1.13 million) Porsche is asking for the car in the US and Canada, not including delivery charges. Then buyers will need to find a Porsche dealer authorised to sell the 918.

According to Porsche, you can buy a 918 Spyder from any Porsche dealer anywhere in the world, provided they've signed a participation agreement with Porsche. Dealers who want to place an order for a 918 will have to submit an "Allocation Request Form." Porsche will reply with an "Allocation Response Form," which tells the dealer whether there's a car available for them.

Once that's done, the dealer submits an order form, along with a US$200,000 down payment. Porsche will respond with a confirmation and an estimated month for production.

The next step is another US$200,000 deposit 12 months before the production date. The balance - US$445,000 plus shipping - is due when Porsche says the car is done. Porsche says the car will not be shipped until it has been paid for in full. The reason, apparently, is that it won't be building any of the hyper-expensive 918s on speculation, and that each car needs to have an owner.