The Porsche 918 Spyder now has the official green light for production. (PRNewsFoto/Porsche Cars North America, Inc.)

The Porsche 918 Spyder supercar has the green light for official production, the German car manufacturer Porsche said today in a statement.

The supervisory board for Porsche said that “overwhelming response from the public and customers” prompted them to start building the Porsche 918 Spyder based on the model that was presented to consumers at auto shows in 2010.

The supercar, which features plug-in hybrid technology, made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010 and was subsequently displayed at the Auto China show in Beijing.

The hybrid vehicle shocked consumers in that it can go zero-to-60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds, but has CO2 emissions of just 70 g/km, proving that ultra-high end manufacturers can go green in their product design.

The Porsche 918 Spyder engine boasts a 500-horsepower V8, and a hybrid electric drive system, attaining a stunning 78 miles per gallon–far outperforming other hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid models. It can run for around 14 miles purely on its electric power reserve, the company stated.

“Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts,” said president and chairman Porsche AG's Board of Management Michael Macht in the statement.

However, the car will be available to only the most wealthy of individuals, priced at around $600,000. It is expected to top out at 199 miles-per-hour.

“This extremely efficient drivetrain technology forms a symbiosis in the 918 Spyder with truly outstanding design and high-tech motorsport achievements,” the company said.

The car will be developed in Weissach near Stuttgart, Germany and it will be assembled in Zuffenhausen, as it “is also a very important commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base,” Macht said.