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Porsche (finally) unleashes full, official details on 918 Spyder

Porsche has finally let released all of the details on the 918 Spyder, the German brand's challenger to the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari, after months of leading our poor, performance-loving hearts on. The covers were lifted at the Volkswagen Group night, an enormous precursor to the Frankfurt Motor Show, and include a massive, 11,000-word press release that's attached at the bottom of this page.
The 918 Spyder features a mid-mounted, dry-sump-lubricated, 4.6-liter V8 engine that generates 608 horsepower when left to its own devices. Combined with a trio of electric motors, which produce 286 hp, the total system horsepower for the 918 Spyder rests at 887 ponies. That's less than the McLaren P1 (903 hp) and the LaFerrari (949 hp), but the Porsche is also likely to be a bit cheaper, starting at $845,000, while the McLaren will be in the seven-figure range for certain, and it will more than likely be joined by the LaFezza.
The 918 Spyder counters with a 2.8-second jog to 62, a 7.7-second run to 124 and it will hit 186 in 22 seconds.

Watch a Porsche 918 Spyder being built by hand

No music track, no dialogue, no voiceover, just a group of women and men in a very clean room in Zuffenhausen assembling the Porsche 918 Spyder. It's the antidote to the adrenaline that the open-topped hybrid coupe encourages in most enthusiast bloodstreams, but this nearly-11-minute video is the most captivating B-roll we've seen in a while. From hand-sewn leather to hand-wrapped trim, monococques being wheeled about, the copious use of shims and the rear brace being fitted over the engine, plus the Christmas-like joy of opening a box of body panels, it's all in there. You can't buy a new one anymore, but you can see how they're built for those who did buy them in the video above. Related Gallery 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder: First Drive View 51 Photos Related Gallery 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Factory Tour View 28 Photos News Source: Cars via YouTube, Road & TrackImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Michael Harley / AOL Green Plants/Manufacturing Porsche Convertible Hybrid Luxury Performance Supercars Videos porsche 918 spyder zuffenhausen

Porsche kicks off Macan production at revamped Leipzig plant

After over two years of construction and roughly 500 million euros ($684 million at current rates) invested, Porsche finally opened its Leipzig, Germany, factory expansion on February 11. The improvements to the plant are dedicated to building the Macan and include a new body shop, paint shop and assembly line that are advancing Porsche's goal to sell 50,000 Macan's per year. The company believes that the new model is going to push it to over 200,000 annual sales 3 years ahead of schedule, and the enlarged branch can support even more Macan production, if there is demand.
"We are totally convinced in the qualities of this location and that the Macan will be a marketing success," said Porsche Chairman Matthias Müller during the opening celebration. The company opened its Leipzig factory in 2002 to build the Cayenne and added Panamera production in 2009.
The Macan models are due to launch in the US this summer with prices starting at $49,900. Scroll down to learn all of the details about the Macan's Leipzig assembly plant.