http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=57&t=150635 This is an interesting move, it will open the market place for Porsche. But I though Porsche was about preformance, not about being environmentally friendly. Porsche is about being able to go 150mph and stop in 300 feet. But its an interesting concept. We have the new Lexus 400H (based on the 330) Ford Escape hybrid. available to us.
porsche is beginning to lose its name and heritage... if they keep this up they will just be another honda or lexus company....
sports cars arent always going to be filled with gas...you have to start developing, perfecting,etc. etc. the technology some time. Porsche just chose to start with the cayenne. its too soon to stuff a hybrid 911 down peoples throats.. but in 15 to 20 years, the time will be right...
the only way theyll loose their heritage is if they stop racing....imo, Porsche needs to step it up in the racing world..The CGT should of been a race car first, and a street car second..they need to get back into rallying, the GT1 class at lemans, etc. etc....oh and they need to win too if they can win almost all the classes they enter, they could build minivans, and people would still fall head over heals for Porsche...
good point. i'm glad that they start with the cayenne, though it is weird to think of a hybrid porsche.
It would be really interesting if automakers could build 500HP electric motors that could be used for racing. Initially, maybe for drag racing. And instead of nitrous, they use larger capacitors.
The technology to do it will be likely will be avaliable in the far future, but how will they do pit stops?
The hertiage part is already covered. Porsche is redefining it's self. It's not a exclusive "sports car maker" anymore, but a exclusive "sports automobile" maker. If it continues to make sexy sports machines, and maintain the price barrier on them, then I don't think Porsche will suffer too much. The CEO has stated that he wants the maintain the price levels they are currently at.
I think that companies should be thinking about engines other then just gas. The Cayenne was a gusty move, but it proved to bring big profit from it. I sure hope it doesn't back fire on them for doing it.
Just heard this, Porsche is uping the Cayenne's horsepower to 540. No details on how they're going to do this, my guess is they'll just increase the boost. Maybe they figure that boosting power cancels out the hybrid. Works for me!
This is a good idea IMO. As for racing P is testing a possible return to Le Mans race car. Hey Toyota races in F1 and makes hybrids and they're fast becoming the #1 car Co. in the world in terms of units and their profits are very impressive as well. The world is changing and this is def. the direction more vehicles will go. Hybrid's IMO are the best way to go to meet the transporation needs of the world as it now is. Passion cars will always exist but there's a huge need for basic transporation to get more MPG and pollute less.
i wish theyd at least bring the diesel over here...i hope that new benz e class CDI is selling good. If it is, hopefully itll start a trend of bringing more mid and full size diesel luxury cars to the states...
Lambo has a diesel Gallardo in Europe. Hybrid > diesel if any one of them is to be used in a sports car imo. I don't think Porsche will consider either for their sports cars here. I doubt consumers of 911's and such give that much priority to fuel economy. But the Cayenne as a Luxury SUV is different. Right now, they went with the Cayenne (least sports-oriented car in lineup) for a good reason.
