Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Details: Elevating Hybrids Into The Performance Sector

Porsche, a company renown for its high-performance sports cars and sport utility vehicles (SUV), this week in Stuttgart demonstrated to the media a Cayenne SUV hybrid prototype, providing a glimpse of what the company will offer to consumers by the end of the decade.

Porsche is targeting average fuel consumption figures of 9.8 liters/100 kilometers in the New European Driving Cycle and about 24 miles per gallon in the US FTP cycle for the Cayenne Hybrid, and future developments may allow Porsche engineers to push towards an average fuel consumption figure of 8.9 liters/kilometer (approximately 26 miles per gallon).

The Cayenne Hybrid will feature a full-hybrid design where the hybrid module (clutch and electric motor) is positioned between the combustion engine and the transmission rather than having the hybrid drivetrain branching output along various lines and in various directions via a planetary gearset. Porsche selected this design because the in-line configuration of the hybrid components are more compatible with the existing Cayenne platform, this system in testing is more fuel efficient, and because this configuration is a better fit for Porsche as it will provide improved acceleration and engine flexibility compared to a conventional Cayenne.

Coordinating the car’s three main components – the combustion engine, the electric motor and the battery – is the Hybrid Manager, the heart of the Cayenne Hybrid. The Hybrid Manager, which oversees some 20,000 data parameters as compared to only 6,000 data parameters for a conventional engine, is one of the most powerful technologies found in any hybrid vehicle.

Other unique features of the Cayenne Hybrid designed to decrease fuel consumption include the power steering and vacuum pump for the brakes, as well as the air conditioning, which operate on electric power. Technical components, such as the oil pump in the Cayenne’s automatic transmission, have been replaced by electrically powered units. The Cayenne Hybrid’s electro-hydraulic steering – a first for a vehicle of its kind, will ensure the Cayenne Hybrid drives like a Porsche with predictable and safe handling characteristics and the agility that is expected of a Porsche SUV.

Porsche plans to introduce similar hybrid technology in a version of its Panamera four-door Gran Turismo. The Panamera will debut in 2009, with a hybrid to follow.

Agent009 - 7/30/2007 10:03:20 AM

-3 Boost

At last a Hybrid that can actually be used off road!

While the Toyota and Lexus Hybrids are excellent boulevard cruisers, that annoying sticker on the window which warns not to go off-road, is a bit odd.

Hyundai - 7/30/2007 11:05:29 AM

+4 Boost

Is it a surprise to you that the RXh isn't an off-roader? Have you seen the wheels on it?

Agent009 - 7/30/2007 12:19:04 PM

-3 Boost

Hyundai- I doubt many Lexus are offroaders to much degree. The definition is probably limited to what is deemed as off road. A stroll across a grassy lane? or rock climbing?

The sticker is probably there to keep An errant RX owner from fording a river AKA Land Rover style. Not that the Cayenne could actually do that either.

Hyundai - 7/30/2007 2:47:11 PM

+2 Boost

2 out of 3 of their SUVs is not exactly a bad ratio of off-roaders-to-on-roaders... Are you including their cars in your equation? lol....

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/30/2007 11:49:52 AM

+1 Boost

Finally a decent performance hybrid! One that doesn't feel boring to drive. One that doesn't has a messed up weight distribution, one that doesn't has a annoying CVT gearbox.

I would definitely buy a Cayenne Hybrid over a RX400h. But I would take off the stupid "Cayenne Hybrid" badge off the car.

SupraNeverBack - 7/30/2007 12:02:12 PM

+3 Boost

hehe, Elevating Hybrids Into The Performance Sector? Because it is German? It doesn't exist yet. However, there are RX400h, GS450h, 600HL... and even the GM Tahoe Hybrid.

Agent009 - 7/30/2007 12:26:37 PM

-1 Boost

No offense but the Hybrid is not really known as a preformance (0-60) producing option. However it does provide gobs of torque.

1970toyotamarc - 7/30/2007 1:52:55 PM

+2 Boost

That's exactly what the Lexus hybrids are for. Hello, GS450h? Its sole purpose is to be for performance. The LS600hL has awesome horsepower, and is only hampered at the dragstrip by being the extended wheelbase and having AWD. (I would love to see a rear wheel drive, regular wheelbase, maybe it will be released in future years.)

Will_ - 7/30/2007 12:29:49 PM

+6 Boost

Finally a German hybrid! One that isn't Japanese or Lexus!

...Rejoice...

Will_ - 7/30/2007 12:45:46 PM

+5 Boost

Porsche definitely does not need help selling cars, but I have an idea of where their marketers and advertisers should take the ad campaigns for this:

"The world's first hybrid that nobody can say anything bad about. It's German."

Anti_Bangle - 7/30/2007 1:10:29 PM

-1 Boost

"The world's first hybrid that nobody can say anything bad about. It's German."

I would say something bad about it. It's stupid for Porsche to join this hybrid marketing hype. I'd much rather see a diesel Cayenne.

EL34 - 7/30/2007 1:08:01 PM

-7 Boost

We all have to remember it wasn't Japan that invented the hybrid automobile.

So they don't own the rights to it.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/30/2007 2:47:20 PM

-4 Boost

43LE, you are wrong.

I could be wrong, but I always considering the WMV Dual Power to be the first true hybrid because it had amazing performance for its time.

Besides, VW had tons and tons of hybrid experiments. But they weren't efficient enough, that's why they went for diesels.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/30/2007 3:52:50 PM

-1 Boost

Current leader? Toyota and Lexus. I agree.

Kinger - 7/30/2007 1:27:29 PM

+1 Boost

Not many people know this, but Ferdinand Porsche is credited with inventing the first hybrid car. This is from wikipedia:

In 1901, while employed at Lohner Coach Factory, Ferdinand Porsche designed the "Mixte", a series-hybrid vehicle based off his earlier "System Lohner-Porsche" electric carriage. The Mixte broke several Austrian speed records, and also won the Exelberg Rally in 1901 with Porsche himself driving. The Mixte used a gasoline engine powering a generator, which in turn powered electric hub motors, with a small battery pack for reliability.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/30/2007 2:48:06 PM

-2 Boost

I totally forgot about that one. Go Porsche!

1970toyotamarc - 7/30/2007 1:32:59 PM

+2 Boost

I'm sure it was a German who invented the wheel too.

Will_ - 7/30/2007 3:56:04 PM

+2 Boost

I'm pretty sure a German created the universe as well. I learned it as a young boy in church. The Church of St. BMW.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/30/2007 5:22:25 PM

+1 Boost

Exactly. They work in urban areas and that's it.

EL34 - 7/30/2007 7:36:55 PM

+1 Boost

Thank you Porsche for giving us a Hybrid Off-Roader.

Can't do that in alexus!!