8/23/10

2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid coming this fall

Cars Mania Blog
Auto Car | 2010 New York: 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid coming this fall | The 2011 Porsche Cayenne made its stateside debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show today but the highlight of the new SUV’s premiere was the Cayenne S Hybrid, which allows the same performance level of a V8 engine while increasing fuel-economy by 20 percent.

Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 40 mph. When you need to stomp on the accelerator, the motor also provides an extra ‘boost’ to the gasoline engine.

The North American Cayenne model range will include four models including the base 300-hp Cayenne, 400-hp Cayenne S, 500-hp Cayenne Turbo and the Cayenne S Hybrid.

But unlike the Touareg, which will move entirely to V-6 engines for U.S. versions, the new Porsche Cayenne hangs onto its V-8 options. The entry-level model offers a base 300-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6, paired with an eight-speed "Tipotronic" automatic transmission.

Next in line is the Cayenne S Hybrid model, which gets more power (333 hp) out of a smaller 3.0-liter V-6, courtesy of supercharging. It is paired with a 34-kilowatt (47-hp) electric motor that sits between the engine and the eight-speed automatic.

Together, the engine and the motor generate 427 foot-pounds of torque at a low 1,000 rpm, which could make the Cayenne S Hybrid the king of suburban stoplight racing.

Porsche had previewed the Cayenne Hybrid's "sailing" ability, but the production version can switch off its engine at up to 97 mph under light load or during deceleration. This contrasts sharply with most hybrids, which use electric power only at low speeds.

Porsche says the Cayenne S Hybrid will accelerate on electric power alone up to 37 mph, though we suspect that's not under full throttle. As in all full hybrids, the electric motor supplements the gasoline engine's output, with the blend of the two power sources optimized for lowest fuel consumption.

The 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid uses a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located under the rear seat. Porsche did not specify its energy capacity, though it is likely to be between 1 and 2 kilowatt-hours.

For the European market, Porsche cites the Cayenne S Hybrid emits just 193 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. That translates to 28.3 miles per gallon, making it Porsche's single most fuel-efficient model.

By way of comparison, the most efficient model of today's 2010 Cayenne, the base version with a 290-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, is rated by the EPA at 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway.

While 28 mpg pales against the 50 mpg rating of the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid, those two cars are simply never cross-shopped. For Cayenne buyers who want to go green while retaining Porsche performance, the new hybrid crossover is the way to go.

(www.greencarreports.com)

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1 comment:

  1. The wallpapers are really more amusing to see. Its mileage shows this Porsche is one of the well quality model. But I have no such aim to buy this type of new model as I want to buy one used car of Porsche.

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