Porsche to launch hybrid car?
Rumours suggest a diesel-electric Toyota tie-in
Porsche could be planning to launch a hybrid car. Remarks by the boss of Porsche US Peter Schwarzenbauer suggest that a team has been studying whether Porsche should develop a hybrid model over the last year, according to Fuel Cell Works.
"It looks like this is probably a trend for the future," said Schwarzenbauer this week. "We are seriously looking at this technology" for the North American market.
Other sources suggest a diesel-electric Cayenne is the front-runner, with performance given the prominence you'd expect. However, this would fly in the face of Porsche's previous statements which ruled out a diesel-powered Porker forever. Nonetheless, Schwarzenbauer is reported to have said that a study team was launched earlier this year, but it has been given no timetable for reporting in, nor is there a target date for production.
This story follows rumours of a tie-in with Toyota to develop a hybrid vehicle.
He also commented on the fourth car dilemma for the sports car maker. This debate has been going on within the company for sometime, and many rumours suggest either a Boxster coupe or a four-door GT, based on the iconic 911, are on the cards. The company's deliberations are "30 per cent if, and 70 per cent what", Schwarzenbauer said. He said a decision should come sometime in mid-2005.
More here: www.fuelcellsworks.com; www.thecarconnection.com
Porsche need to consider the dilution, from high-end/luxury to car of the masses/VW, of BMW's brand as a result of diversifying into markets that did not fit their original brand.
It may generate dosh now, but the long term desirability of BMW is damaged and will become that of VW and Audi, if it has not already.
swilly said:
Porsche 911 Turbo-diesel anyone.
It may generate dosh now, but the long term desirability of BMW is damaged and will become that of VW and Audi, if it has not already.
Totally agree, Tag don't make watches which cost £50. It could get like it was in the early 80's when Porsche built cars to match the amount of customers they had, they met demand. Whereas Ferrari carried on the same and just had bigger order books. In the long term I feel the Ferrari brand has been better for it IMHO
Ian
tvrman said:
Totally agree, Tag don't make watches which cost £50. It could get like it was in the early 80's when Porsche built cars to match the amount of customers they had, they met demand. Whereas Ferrari carried on the same and just had bigger order books. In the long term I feel the Ferrari brand has been better for it IMHO
I disagree. A better analogy would be Tag selling watches powered by sunlight instead of more conventional methods. The pricetag for a diesel Porsche would, if anything, be higher.
The trademark of Porsche is performance and handling. As long as they are right, then there's benefit to the idea.
tvrman said:
swilly said:
Porsche 911 Turbo-diesel anyone.
It may generate dosh now, but the long term desirability of BMW is damaged and will become that of VW and Audi, if it has not already.
Totally agree, Tag don't make watches which cost £50. It could get like it was in the early 80's when Porsche built cars to match the amount of customers they had, they met demand. Whereas Ferrari carried on the same and just had bigger order books. In the long term I feel the Ferrari brand has been better for it IMHO
Ian
Well, at least Porsche is still an independent car manufacturer unlike Ferrari which is owned by Fiat. In fact that is why Ferrari is now Fiat because they continued to ignore the need of being able to finance themselves and move on with the times.
>> Edited by silver993tt on Thursday 16th December 12:49
It'll probably be just as expensive and powerful, but powered by a fuel other than petrol.
IMO every major car manufacturer should be developing alternative fuel cars because at some point this century petrol will become so scarce that only the rich will be able to afford it. And it may happen sooner than you think.
It's for that reason that i drive a TVR now, while petrol is still (reasonably) cheap.
Stop the madness and get back to winning GT races outright instead of class wins and pass down the technology to the road cars please. The peerless brakes on the 911 are a direct result of the lessons learned from the Carrera RSR's and Porsche 917 over 30 years ago. Porsches mastery of the reliable turbo is also a direct result of racing. Get on with it Porsche!
Lets face facts. If it was not for the Cayenne Porsche would be in intensive care and we would all be worried about what large mega-corporation was going to take them over.
Selling SUV's is massively profitable. The new 997' models to come are being paid for out of Cayenne profits.
The writing on the wall says that SUV's will have to adapt and be more fuel efficient. If Porsche wants to carry on with this cash-cow that pays for the all good stuff we like, then it makes sense to look ahead at more fuel efficient versions of the Cayenne.
Good luck to them.
But I'd forgive them for not going through with this if they got back into serious GT racing.
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