Performance car specialist 3489 Porsche is the latest firm to announce plans to launch a new plug-in hybrid vehicle. With 522kW on tap, a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.2seconds and a top speed of 320km/h, this green machine has performance to match some of the highest performance cars on the market. Simulations carried out have estimated that it will be able to lap the full Nürburgring circuit in Germany in 7.5minutes. The car features a V8, 4litre engine and twin electric motors with power delivered through a seven speed gearbox. The car's batteries can be topped up from a 240V household socket but allow a maximum distance of just 25.6km in electric only mode and considerably less if the driver uses much of the vehicle's performance. Made from carbon fibre to minimise weight and with a production run of just 918 vehicles starting in the third quarter of 2013, this car is not likely to be cheap. A pricetag of €773,000 has been set, which puts the vehicle out of reach for most buyers. Somewhat more down to earth is the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera, the European version of the 2773 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, which is expected to cost some €32,000.
