Friday 21st January 2005

Porsche to build hybrid Cayenne

But Carrera and Boxster are safe, says the boss

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Porsche is developing a non-petrol version of its SUV, the Cayenne, according to reports in Autocar and elsewhere. But it won't be diesel -- Porsche has publicly eschewed all mention of the D word. Instead, it will be a petrol-electric hybrid.

Porsche chairman Wendelin Wiedeking said at the recent Detroit motor show that he wanted to boost the SUV's appeal. He added that it was also the only way to meet emission regulations. He saw the hybrid using a 3.3-litre petrol V6 powerplant and a 270hp electric motor, the same system Toyota will use in its upcoming Lexus RX400h. he stamped on rumours that such a system might find its way into either the 911 or Boxster.

Wiedeking said that Porsche -- probably the world's most profitable automotive company -- couldn't afford to develop its own hybrid system, which was why it was buying Toyota's technology.

[Don]

Oh dear.

[Plotloss]

Smart move.

That will sell like hotcakes to the caring sharing Northern California types...

[hendry]

So what? It's the V6 version of the Cayenne with a couple of electric motors mounted to the wheels to give it a shed load more torque when you need it. Oh, and some software that makes the car hum in town, where 4x4's are getting eggs thrown at them at the moment for being unsafe and polluting.

This seems like an astute answer to address the anti-4x4 brigade and as a site embracing the freedom of keen drivers to drive what they want, we should be encouraging it.

[jsr]

Fair play to them. Everyone's going to have to develop alternative fuel vehicles at some point. Might as well start now.

[henrycrun]

Still too big for town. Also they should attach a helium balloon to make it lighter.

[mutant_matt]

I say good idea too!! If it helps fund the company to be able to continue to make the stuff we want them to, then I say yes

Matt

[v8thunder]

Fair enough. Still, I hear the Cayenne was a joint VW-Porsche project so they could just scrap it at any time, upgrade the underpinnings to suit an Audi and offer a 'Porsche engine' as an option. It may be doing good things for Porsche sales, but it's ruining their image.

[Plotloss]

There is an Audi SUV on its own platform on the way...

[Ashley.Thompson]

The Hybrid Cayenne is a step in the right direction for Porsche. That it has committed to a 4X4 already was a surprise, but now that its up and running and has helped the company become THE most profitable car producer in the world, then any future enhancement of the product is to be welcomed. As for a proper Diesel - why not? The latest generation engines are so competent and quiet. Such a move would definitely open the market further.

[phase90]

Considering Ferdinand Porsche pioneered the hybrid car a hundred years ago, why are people so against it?

[LongQ]

Ashley.Thompson said:

The Hybrid Cayenne is a step in the right direction for Porsche. That it has committed to a 4X4 already was a surprise, but now that its up and running and has helped the company become THE most profitable car producer in the world, then any future enhancement of the product is to be welcomed. As for a proper Diesel - why not? The latest generation engines are so competent and quiet. Such a move would definitely open the market further.

Not sure the typical american buyer (where at least there is space enough in most towns and large enough alternative vehicles around to make the Cayenne look small) knows what diesel is. Certainly not in terms of a car.

Hybrid makes much better headlines and scores more brownie points.

Another Porsche with electrifying performance ... ?



Grabs coat and rushes for the door

[toppstuff]

mutant_matt said:

I say good idea too!! If it helps fund the company to be able to continue to make the stuff we want them to, then I say yes Matt

Spot on ! And very shrewd of Porsche, too. They can see how the forthcoming Lexus RX hybrid is sold out for months in advance.

Whats more, that Toyota technology is producing an SUV with performance like a V8 together with 30mpg plus. Can't be bad.

[peterpeter]

phase90 said:

Considering Ferdinand Porsche pioneered the hybrid car a hundred years ago, why are people so against it?

because morons like JC are too.

My mum has a Toyota Prius (ok dull car)

But its great for her, reliable easy to drive and she averages 70 mpg (unlike the 45mpg crap JC was talking when he reviewed it).

Plus there is no congestion charge (quite a bonus for us) and she got a £750 rebate...plus she gets lower road tax too.)

Its ironic that you could drive a 2 ton Cayenne through Red Kens London without paying the CC.

[FestivAli]

I'm not wholly oposed to the idea, and why shouldn't porsche be producing these vehicles now? Fuels gonna run out eventually, may as well develop alternate engines for performance vehicles and when that day does come, we'll all have nice fun cars to drive because they will have had the 30-50 year fun development cycles. I'm rabbiting on I'm afraid. Still, so long as we don't have 'The new 999 Carrera. With handling done by Toyota...'

[kkk]

Mmmm..i think its worth thinking about the future, consider a 1000kgs of 911 with a flat four VVT
(250bhp) plus electric motors in each corner (50bhp each)and flat batterys built into the floor...could be interesting!

[andy_ash]

I still think all this stuff about environmental benefits of electric power for cars is a joke. I can't see how you can make an electric motor that has a power to weight rating like a piston or jet engine.

If it's going to be environmentally efficient it has to have a high power to weight ratio, even if the power output is low. Electric motors just aren't suitable, even with the best materials technology available.

I'll grant you that alternators are fine in powerstations. They however don't have to use energy to regularly change the momentum of their own mass. They are dynamic systems certainly, but they are efficient only because they are physically static in space.

This all electric future is just another piece of junk dreamed up by the politicians.

I wouldn't mind seeing a compressed Hydrogen powered 911 Turbo though.

Electrolysed hydrogen is the future, if there is one.

[v8thunder]

I agree with the hydrogen in converted petrol engines (BMW can do this for you if you like), and cars will essentially run on water. Run converted diesel engines on Oilseed Rape oil and make the farmers stinking rich. Point is, it's a liquid that can be taxed by the quantity and that's as far as it goes.

Electric cars, on the other hand, will be taxed electronically by the mile, leading to all sorts of nasty Big Brother car control schemes since there's no longer a connected environmental issue. Talking about so much progress isn't always a good thing with Tony breathing down your neck.

Also, the problem with electric cars is that the 'listen' bit of 'stop, look listen' goes right out of the window. I reckon you'd get more accidents with silent cars that people, literally, just won't hear coming.

Definately want a liquid/gas-powered car, I want to hear it BURN! muahahahahahaha!

>> Edited by v8thunder on Saturday 22 January 14:48

[Sgt^Roc]

So how will this 4x4 sit with the anti offroader campaigners when it whispers past in electric mode, technolgy is being used to fleece the motorist but it is refreashing to see it being used in this way

[b10]

I wish that some of this huge R&D resource could be spent on something useful. This is just a general comment. The environment saved by this hybrid 4x4 pales into insignificance compared with every jet that flies in and out of an airport. The only benfit will be be the smug grin the driver who has only bought the vehicle for its badge.

TAX AVIATION FUEL!!!

[robertuk]

v8thunder said:

....Also, the problem with electric cars is that the 'listen' bit of 'stop, look listen' goes right out of the window. I reckon you'd get more accidents with silent cars that people, literally, just won't hear coming. >> Edited by v8thunder on Saturday 22 January 14:48

Well just as natural gas does not smell,
so we add a bit of noise to the electric car !
solution.

I now power to weight ratio is important,
but look at where we are

mobiles are smaller/lighter+longer battery run times.
Compared to that huge brick I had ten years ago
with no caller id and 1.5 hour talk time

Home computers can be bought for £600 including a LCD screen. A 17 inch monitor and PC used to cost £1600
8 years ago. 1MB of computer memory was £30
Now you get 512MB for around £45 and processor speeds of 3000 MHZ !

**Car technology***
We're making huge leaps and bounds in science,
There are almost perfect solutions out there
waiting to be discoverd,
we just have to find them.

Kids born today will not think twice about it when they grow up in a society that embrace technology. Its amazing that ten years ago we couldnt program the VCR and now everyone aged 7 to 70 can text !

Well done Porsche for making a bold move.
Hybrid vechicles are a step closer to that
environmentally friendly car my generation would like to drive!