Porsche planning more plug-ins

Which automaker offers the most plug-in models in the industry? The answer may surprise you, because it's not Toyota, it's not Renault or Nissan or any other automaker that might spring to mind. The answer is Porsche, which already offers the Cayenne and Panamera in plug-in hybrid spec in addition to the 918 Spyder. And it could offer more in the near future.

Speaking with Automotive News, Porsche's global sales and marketing chief Bernhard Maier spoke of the importance of plug-in range-extended models to the company's future plans. The 55-year-old executive, who endeavors to make his 56-mile round-trip daily commute from home to the company's headquarters in Stuttgart entirely emissions free, indicated that his company only plans to offer more plug-in models.

Previous reports indicated that E-Hybrid powertrain in the Cayenne and Panamera wouldn't fit in the Macan, and that no such plans were in store for the Boxster, Cayman or 911. But when asked what Porsche had in store for the future, Maier replied: "We have a lot of ideas, but we have not approved them for production yet. The 918 Spyder shows that Porsche has the capability to produce very convincing hybrid sports cars."

While clearly guarded, Maier's answer points to a future of more plug-in hybrid models from the storied German marque. All that remains to be seen is whether that will come in the form of a Boxster, Cayman, Macan or another new model altogether, like the rumored mini-Panamera dubbed Pajun or a mid-engined V8 supercar.

Source: Autoblog

Porsche focusing on deployment of plug-in hybrid technology

“Porsche is focusing on the deployment of plug-in hybrid technology in production,” according to Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board - Research and Development, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Hatz made the announcement at this year’s Vienna Motor Symposium.
Porsche began taking orders for the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid drive super sports car in March 2011, even as production development proceeded; first customer cars begin arriving in the United States near the end of 2013. (Earlier post.)
In addition, Hatz underscored the expansion of electrification in hybrid models and the optimization of the conventional combustion engine will play a major role in future drive system developments.

With the Panamera and the Cayenne, Porsche has already successfully launched two hybrid models on the market. The sales figures for the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid for 2011 are more than twice as high as the figures of all our competitors combined in this market segment.

—Wolfgang Hatz

Porsche is developing more solutions to get even greater efficiency and performance from the synergy effects of combustion engine and electric motor, Hatz said. Furthermore, he added, the potential of conventional combustion engines is far from being exhausted.
That's why, for Porsche, the combustion engine will continue to play a vital role for the drive system of sports cars in the foreseeable future.

—Wolfgang Hatz

Will We See a Plug-In Porsche Panamera in 2014?

The past decade or so has been a tough one for Porsche purists to take. From a range that comprised just the enduring 911 and the Boxster, we've since seen dubiously-styled off-roaders and sedans, diesel engines (in Europe) and hybrid versions.

Not surprisingly, Porsche is also more profitable than ever before - the Cayenne SUV has been a massive success. And to keep this level of success up as the motoring world becomes greener, Porsche could be expanding its hybrid range to include a plug-in vehicle too.

According to Automotive News, Porsche is considering a plug-in hybrid version of the Panamera luxury sedan, due to arrive in 2014.

This will tie in with the plans of Volkswagen, which owns 49.9 percent of Porsche, which also plans to release several plug-in cars under the Audi and VW brands over the next few years.

The plug-in Panamera would likely be sold in the United States, where hybrid vehicles are more popular - and likely to be more accepted by Porsche buyers - than the diesels sold in Europe.

The Volkswagen Group, and by extension Porsche AG, is concentrating on plug-in hybrids as for high-end luxury vehicles they offer the best of both worlds - low emissions and silent travel in a city environment, with the larger ranges required for longer, high-speed journeys. The technology will likely be based on Volkswagen's new modular architecture, allowing the group to benefit from economies of scale.

Before the plug-in Panamera arrives, Porsche will already have released its first production plug-in hybrid, the 918 Spyder, previewed at several auto shows over the past couple of years.


Source: Green Car Reports

Introducing the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid - 35 mpg

Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker Porsche has pledged to add a hybrid version to every model in its lineup without sacrificing performance. So it should be no surprise that the Panamera S Hybrid has 380 horsepower and averages 35 mpg.

From race cars to road cars, Porsche seems genuinely serious about performance hybrids. Ok, actually it averages 34.5 mpg thanks to a 47-horsepower electric motor coupled to a 333 horsepower supercharged 3.0 liter V6 engine. Total output? 380 horsepower. That’s damn good for a car that gets the same gas mileage as many compact cars. Porsche had previously announced plans to build just such a hybrid, so no surprises here.

The electric motor can actually power the Panamera S Hybrid for about 1.25 miles on electricity alone, and an eight-speed transmission helps take the Panamera from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds, and a top speed of 168 mph. In a hybrid. Porsche is taking on electric cars too, with an electric Boxster pumping out 240 horsepower with a zero-emissions range of 100 miles.

Why aren’t more automakers building hybrids like this? Sure, if it comes to America it will cost well over $100,000, but this is the kind of hybrid that every performance nut would love to drive. Hybrids don’t have to be boring, and Porsche keeps proving this over and over again. Are you paying attention, Detroit?

Source: Gas2.0