New luxury Porsche hits 350km/h in 40 seconds in outback test drive

Porsche has showed off its latest superfast hybrid sports car on an unrestricted road in the Australian outback, with the limited edition $1.1 million dollar vehicle going from 60km/h to 350km/h in just 40 seconds.

New Zealand race car driver Craig Baird took the wheel of the two-seater Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid, equipped with a 4.6L V8 engine, on an unrestricted stretch of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory.

In scenes that would be right at home in a Hollywood action movie, Baird rapidly accelerates and leaves a furious trail of swirling red dust.

The road stretches 204km north of Alice Springs to just south of Barrow Creek. The unlimited speed zone was implemented in February last year on a “trial” basis.

“Open Speed Zone Ahead – Drive to Conditions,” a sign declares at the start of the zone.

The luxury vehicle is sure to whet the appetite of car enthusiasts with an extra dollar or two, but they’re out of luck.

The first models to roll off the factory floor – all 918 of them – have promptly sold out.