Friday 25th February 2011

Hybrid Porsche To Headline Geneva

Video: Amazing footage of Stuttgart's latest show-stopper

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Porsche will present the first functional, full hybrid car in the world, the Semper Vivus at the Geneva motor show next week - 111 years after its World Premiere in 1900.

The name Porsche has been associated with pioneering innovations in automotive engineering since the beginning of the last century, the company says in a release issued with this fascinating preview video:

"In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche, founding father of the present-day Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, entered unchartered territory. With the first functional, full hybrid car in the world, the Semper Vivus ('always alive'). the principle of the serial hybrid drive had been born.

"In a stunning four year project the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart has had the Semper Vivus recreated. Next week, 111 years after this ground breaking innovation by Ferdinand Porsche, the Semper Vivus will again drive into the limelight at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 followed by future appearances as part of the Porsche Museum collection in Stuttgart."

Needless to say, we're impressed!

[anniesdad]

I reckon that's just about got the legs on this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQB_tgS7f0

[Mr Gear]

Sweet ride, but I wish videos like this had less silly music and camera angles, and more actual useful info and sounds.

[Major Fallout]

The 1901 Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid did the London to Brighton Run a few years back, its a very interesting car.

Nothing is new in this world.

Edited by Major Fallout on Thursday 24th February 12:26

[Oddball RS]

TBH, its better looking than the Cayenne, but its just not for me..............

[ArtVandelay]

Looks like a tall 911, world's laziest designers.

[bob1179]

I too would love to know what it looks like and a few more technical specs.

[SC00P]

How does it work? What's the fuel it uses? Why are those front wheels so wide?

Video does nothing more than the photo.

[Some Gump]

God. Another week, another pointless new 911 lanch. I'd be interested, if it wasn't for the fact that they all look exactly the same.
Anyways, the GTR is quicker.

[Oddball RS]

Runs on Unobtanium, no hang on thats petrol in three weeks thats not right................

[poo at Paul's]

FWD? All that unsprung mass?


Them Porsche fellas dont ahve a clue!

[Mr Gear]

poo at Paul's said:

FWD? All that unsprung mass?


Them Porsche fellas dont ahve a clue!

4WD apparently.

[garycat]

F Porsche said : "Aving ze motor in ze front veels makes for ze bad handling zo in my next car I vill hang ze motor out behind ze back veels"

[Rumblestripe]

Does anyone know how it did at "The Ring"?

[thinfourth2]

I fking hate hybrids i can't belive Porsche are destroying their heritage with this car

[Garp]

thinfourth2 said:

I fking hate hybrids i can't belive Porsche are destroying their heritage with this car

you absolute fking moron if you read it properly.

This car isn't new this car was made back at the beginning of the 20th century they are using this to show that they did it way back at the beginning of the automotive boom.

tit

[Mr Gear]

Garp said:

thinfourth2 said:

I fking hate hybrids i can't belive Porsche are destroying their heritage with this car

you absolute fking moron if you read it properly.

This car isn't new this car was made back at the beginning of the 20th century they are using this to show that they did it way back at the beginning of the automotive boom.

tit

Oh dear oh dear. You appear to have missed the sarcastic joke entirely. Tell 'im Thinfourth...

[bobberz]

Not only was it a hybrid nearly a century before the Prius, but it had in-hub electric motors- something that still eludes the production car! I love telling self-righteous Prius owners this when they're gloating about their new car that's sooo technologically advanced!

The more you learn the more you realize ze Germans pretty much invented everything, lol.

[bobberz]

ArtVandelay said:

Looks like a tall 911, world's laziest designers.

Some Gump said:

God. Another week, another pointless new 911 lanch. I'd be interested, if it wasn't for the fact that they all look exactly the same.
Anyways, the GTR is quicker.

Rumblestripe said:

Does anyone know how it did at "The Ring"?

Reads like a PH "best of" album.

[c_seven]

Wonderful, I love the fact Porsche commit their marketing budget to projects like this. I know it is simply an adornment for the stand at Geneva to be parked next to the new Panamera Hybrid. But seriously, this or a few magazine ad's, no contest.

Also, if anyone hasn't been to the Porsche museum and gets a chance to go, I can thoroughly recommend it, it is chock full of gems like this and you can even have a coffee looking through the glass at the restoration workshop, which beats Starbucks!

[whatthehell]

What's that? an engine the right place?