Has Porsche Sold Out To The Hybrid Bandwagon?

o_O well... leave it to Porsche to add more model variants to their existing product lineup rather then introducing new models dedicated to their objectives.

I wonder how the hybrid monikers will sell. CAFE standards are based on a weighted average of how many of each type of vehicle they sell. I think if they released a micro super cheap car (it's not like they haven't already sold out) that doubled their sales they wouldn't have anything to worry about. Or wait... does anyone know if CAFE rates Porsche separately from VW? Or VW group as a whole?

I have a feeling that VAG has saddled Porsche with the task of R&D for the group's hybrid-powertrain development. Porsche drivers will be the beta testers.

As their knowledge of the systems grow, I look to see Porsche differentiate themselves by tailoring their systems to be more performanced based like F1's KERS. Look at the relatively small electric drive only range.

Really? sold out? Trying to increase mileage or decrease CO2 emission is now selling out? And how long does something have to be working before it stops being a bandwagon?

You're not a redneck are you buddy? Would suck if you are, but would also explain a lot of your headlines.

Selling out refers to deviating from ones core values. I highly doubt that increasing mileage and decreasing co2 emissions were part of Porsche's core values.

Increasing mileage and decreasing CO2 emissions aren't part of any automaker's core values, Porsche included. I don't see one affecting the other though, unless the core value is to have the lowest mileage or highest CO2 emission.

I would say it's a very deep part of most mass production auto makers core values.

Joe that departure that you speak of is called evolution.

Porsche hasnt...VAG has and are using Porsche for their engineering> Unfortunately this is going to dilute the brand even further.
T

Ferdinand Porsche, head engineer at Jakob Lohner & Co., became famous overnight when his first car was presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris; just 24 years old at the time, he was a pioneer electric vehicle-maker. The Lohner-Porsche Electric Voiturette featured a motor mounted on each of its front wheel-hubs and a 44-cell, 80-volt lead battery: it could reach up to 36mph, and had an operating range of around three hours' usage between recharges.

The Lohner-Porsche boasted an 83% efficiency level, as it needed neither gears nor driveshafts and mechanical frictional losses were eliminated; weight was saved by the lack of differentials, gears, chain-drive and other transmission components and despite the 410kg battery and the heavy wooden wheels (110kg each, including the motors up front), the entire package came to one tonne. Stopping power came from an electric front brake and a mechanical strap brake for the rear wheels, plus ratchet mechanisms on the rear axle to prevent the car from rolling backwards on hills.

http://origin.porsche.com/uk/pictures/picture-of-the-week-lohner-porsche-electric-voiturette-1

Hallelujah if they do "sell out" to the hybrid bandwagon. I'm not an engineer but I recall hybrid/electric can be applied in a manner to improve engine performance, which I would think Porsche )and Lexus and BMW and MB, is aiming for. In addition, it serves a public relation purpose and acts as a vehicle for future technology development. The hybrid slant also caters to some of their customers who like the hybrid aspect to the Porsche that they buy. And if it pisses off the so-called "redneck" in the process, I'm all for that. So yeah, I think it's great for Porsche.

The world changes. Nice to see Porsche adapting. Core Values for Porsche do not appear to be changing, whether it's gas or hybrid.

lol Porsche wins race because they are entered into more races then everyone else. Fyi they also have more last place finishes then anybody else ;)

wins the most races*

I just am tired of people saying that they have the most wins. That measure is just as indicative as their losses.

No, I'm not frustrated due to a weird irrational emotional attachment I have to Porsche. I'm fully ok with the fact that Porsche's are raced a lot. I'm simply stating that saying they are the most winning vehicle in history stems not from their engineering. That is flawed logic. Since using that same logic you could say they aren't a very good race car since they also have the most losses they are therefore the worst race car in history.

But what do I know, apparently I'm acting childish.