The company’s first production hybrid mixes Porsche performance with fuel efficiency. Here’s the official news:
Next month Porsche begins selling its 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid sport-utility vehicle through its 197 authorized U.S. dealers, giving fuel-efficiency minded consumers who also enjoy performance and handling a clear choice in the hybrid arena.
The Cayenne S Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds on its way to a top test track speed of 150 mph, yet it delivers an impressive estimated 21 mpg city/25 highway under current EPA regulations. Its base MSRP is $67,700 (excluding destination), and like all Cayenne models, it is not subject to a gas-guzzler tax.
Like most hybrids the Cayenne S Hybrid can drive for a time on electric power alone at speeds up to 37 mph. However, it delivers efficiencies at cruising speeds through its ability to ‘sail’ or coast with the combustion engine turned off. It can do this for up to one mile, and this not only saves fuel but also minimizes emissions.
In the Cayenne and Panamera model lines the ‘S’ designation indicates a V8 under the hood. But the ‘S’ in the Cayenne S Hybrid name is there for a different reason – to indentify the true performance character of this SUV’s highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid delivers performance nearly equal to the Cayenne S with its 400-horsepower V8 and fuel economy estimates that exceed those of the Cayenne with the V6 engine.
The all-new Porsche Cayenne has earned some significant awards since going on sale this summer. It is the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year® and also recently received the Auto Pacific Motorist Choice Award for Best Premium Active Lifestyle Vehicle.
Hybrid Manager seamlessly coordinates the two power units
Through continuous interaction between the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid focuses on maximum efficiency. Depending on driving conditions, either drive unit can operate independently or together. The 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the 333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds, with peak torque at 428 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm.
Both power units are connected by a decoupling clutch, which ensures that the Cayenne S Hybrid may be driven either by the electric motor or the combustion engine alone, or by both drive units together. The Hybrid Manager constantly coordinates their complex interaction, and intelligent management of the clutch makes the transition among various driving modes seamless and comfortable.
Again, what separates the Cayenne S Hybrid from conventional hybrid vehicles is its ability to ‘sail’ or coast when it does not need drive power and the driver lifts off the accelerator at cruising and highway speeds. In this mode the gasoline engine is switched off and disengaged from the drivetrain, enabling the vehicle to move along without combustion or electric power with engine drag forces and their braking effect being eliminated to reduce driving resistance. As soon as the driver presses the accelerator in the sailing mode, to pass another vehicle for example, the gasoline engine smoothly starts within a fraction of a second and engine rpms are increased to match the current vehicle speed. Thanks to the Hybrid Manager, the Cayenne S Hybrid is able to accelerate dynamically in gears at higher speeds much like a conventional Cayenne.
The hybrid system uses a 288-volt nickel metal-hydride (NiMh) battery fitted beneath the luggage compartment and regenerative braking, the process of storing electricity regained from applying the brakes and driving under normal conditions. This energy is then available for boosting and electric drive, again saving fuel in the process.
The North American Cayenne lineup also includes the Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. They are powered by a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 in the Cayenne, a 400-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne S, and a 500-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne Turbo. The Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo SUV models are on sale now, and their base MSRPs (excluding destination charges) are as follows: Cayenne, $46,700; Cayenne S, $63,700; and Cayenne Turbo, $104,800.