Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
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FUEL ECONOMY:
n/a MPG n/a L/100km
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BODY TYPE:
SUV
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TECHNOLOGY:
Hybrid
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BASE MSRP:
n/a
For years, Porsche has been criticized by environmentalists who claim the luxury automaker has a dismal record on fuel efficiency. Porsche’s first hybrid, the Cayenne sports utility vehicle—and other hybrids to come—represents an effort to respond to the negative publicity. The hybridizing of Porsche models will also help the company meet increasingly tighter standards on carbon emissions in the European Union.
Michael H. Leiters, head of Porsche’s hybrid program told the Associated Press that Porsche is trying to shake the company’s anti-green image. “If everyone is saying you are environmentally friendly, that is not good.” Leiters said that hybrids are the solution.
The first hybrid announcement from the company dates back to the 2005 Frankfurt auto show, when Porsche promised a hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV by the end of the decade. At the time, Porsche estimated the hybrid Cayenne’s fuel economy improvement at 15 percent above the conventional Cayenne. The hybrid system is being developed in a partnership with Volkswagen.
Two years later, Porsche returned to the 2007 Frankfurt show with a demonstration model of the Cayenne Hybrid. This time, vehicle tests show a 30 percent bump in fuel economy—with the Cayenne Hybrid achieving better than 24 miles per gallon compared with less than 18 mpg for the conventional model. The company hinted that the final production vehicle may reach 26 mpg.
The Cayenne hybrid combines Porsche’s 3.6-liter direct fuel injection gas engine with an electric motor and 38 kW, 288 volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. The batteries are housed beneath the luggage compartment which is normally accommodating the spare wheel. The four-wheel-drive vehicle uses a full hybrid system, with the clutch and electric motor positioned between the engine and the transmission.
The Porsche Cayenne hybrid will join the Lexus 400h and the BMW X6 concept hybrid in the increasingly crowded luxury hybrid SUV market. The company has not added any specifics on a release date beyond “the end of the decade.” Pricing information is similarly vague. Yet, Wendelin Widedeking, chief executive at Porsche, indicated that the Porsche Panamera sedan will be next to feature a hybrid system.
The introduction of Porsche hybrids could be considered a homecoming. One of the earliest hybrids ever produced was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1900. The 25-year-old engineer, unknown at the time, had produced an electric car featuring battery-powered electric motors integrated directly into the front-wheel hubs. The vehicle became a hybrid when Porsche later added an internal combustion gasoline engine to drive a generator, which charged the batteries.
Let's be serious. Hybridizing SUVs like the Cayenne or the Tahoe is reducing gas guzzling. When one reaches 40 mpg or better than fuel economy is obtained. When this is achieved on cars in mass production real savings are realised and the future of the next generations becomes less uncertain.
let's get serious. Saving 1 mpg on a vehicle that's sold a million times a year is still more than saving 50 mpg on one sold only 15.000 times. On the other hand, achiving 30% better is much easier on low mpg vehicles. What counts is the total saving!
There is no substitute. That is what this car has always been about. So now Porsche can get more of those properties with an electrical implementation. The side effect being some minor fuel ecconomy benefits.
Owning a Porsche Cayenne hybrid is like Al Gore owning a mansion with solar panels, fluorescent lighting, energy efficient windows, etc.
The idea to hybridize these SUVs is that not everyone can adapt to a Prius, and reaching to 40 mpg (as mentioned by Patrick, from above) is hard...for now. As technology is developes, that 40 mpg SUV dream should be accomplished without sacrificing luxury and performance.
I'm also betting that the fuel savings from the conventional version to the hybrid is bigger than the transition from a Toyota Yaris to a Prius.
Best of all, it is a smart strategy for Porsche.
I have been in a Cayenne as a passenger. It is a cramped, overpriced silly vehicle and people who buy them are overfed, indulgent fools who worship the brand name brainwashing in society.
in other autos. That is the point. Hybrids won't become mainstream until the development costs are paid down. While I would love to see most SUVs and minivans banned, the luxury hybrid autos and SUVs will at least help to reach economies of scale faster, lower the price of advanced battery technologies, and eventually get the overall price down. Same thing happened with cell phones, personal commputers, etc., etc., that are now commodity items.
the purchasing public gets off its love for power and performance. But unfortunately especially Americans must have a car that can do zero to 100 in 4 seconds, is all wheel drive (even if the car never gets off the road or into ice), and can be driven by a soccer mom about 90% of the time.
And auto makers are not helping, they bring out a new, smaller and more efficient model and the next year it begins to grow and be less efficient.
We don't need $50,000 luxo boats, just give us a small 4-seater like the Toyota Prius and watch us save more and more!
I drive a 2000 Intrepid with the V-6 2.7 liter. I need a bigger car and will not buy somehting tiny such as the Prius (by the way, the Prius has horrible rear ward visibility when having to back into a space)
I get highway driving mileage of 29-32 mpg with cruise control set for 60 mph max. My city traffic mpg is about 18. Yes, it is not 60 mpg (but neither is the Prius in real world driving). Local dealer sin Westchester, NY are still advertising a Prius as getting 60mpg =pure baloney !
get a lamborgini
Nothing is ever good enough for you people. If you care so much about the environment and think car manufacturers all suck, then go start your own. I'm tired of hearing you people whine incessantly about everything having to do with the environment. If you want to change something so badly don't try to quash the car companies, go start your own business or invent something better and let the market decide.
I drive a 2005 Prius to and from The Hampton's and New York City every weekend. At 60mph I get 52mpg. At 70mph I get 46mpg. And that's with my wife in the front seat, my dog in the back and two bicycles hanging off the hitch I had installed off the rear bumper. I've never had a problem with visibility, and I'm 6'3". Drive a Prius before you judge it.
Porsche should contact Johnathan Goodwin and have him build them an engine. He's building engines that give Hummers 60mpg and double the power with 80% of the parts that are already being used.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html
Hybrids, they generally look terrible. Sorry Prius owners but they look like hybrids. Not that the Cayenne is the most brilliant looking automobile ever designed but it's getting better. My point is, why do most economical/environmentally friendlier vehicles need to look ridiculous? I understand having a unique aesthetic make them stand out from the pack but come on. Aesthetics should be addressed on the same level as fuel economy and safety. The greater the choices (styles/models) become so do the chances the general public will jump on board. Put it this way, give me an automobile that looks like a Land Rover Sport or most Mercedes for example and I'm there...
Hybrid cars are wonderful and it would intice more people to use them if they were a bit more affordable but it's a start and if you can afford it, it's well worth it!
Ya hybrids! Going green is the way!
this car is awesome:D
I have a 10 year old civic that gets 42 on the highway. You'd think they could do better in 10 years than the mileage these hybrids are getting. Sorry, but if your building a car as small as the prius, making it hybrid it ought to be getting a lot better mileage than that.
I want to help the environment, but i will not sacrifice luxury, style or power. I agree with Mike give me a mercedes, porsche, audi and I'm there. Some of us have to put kids, baseball bags etc in our cars and a prius just won't do it. Counting down to run out and purchasing a cayanne in 2010.
I am an accidental visitor and may try to speak for those for whom driving is more than transportation. I tratotally agree with Mike's and the previous post. Just give me a hybrid that is comprabale or better than my G35 sedan in terms of style, power and handling. But even then I will do my math and see whether XXMPG is better than my average 17/24 is worth the price premium.
wuttever. your just jealous that you cant afford it.
Does anyone know how long the batteries will last on the new Porsche?? I have heard that the cost of replacing these when the car is older (5 - 6 years old) could run as high as $8,000. Thats a lot of cash to be putting out on an older vehicle.
The freedoms in this great country allow each one of us to choose what we like. It should not be any different when it comes to choosing automobiles. I've driven the Cayenne, and I beg to differ & have to say that it's the best SUV that I've ever driven so far. It's a matter or taste, luxury. comfort, handling, style and power of this vehicle, that attracts most people to it. Not to mention the rich history behind the name.
Guys these are show cars, you can't seriously believe they will have HYBRID splashed all over the car? I think its a great Auto Influence for other companies.
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