Green Chili Pepper: Porsche Announces Cayenne Hybrid

With stricter European and North American emission and fuel consumptionlegislations pending, Porsche has just announced a move that will allow it to continue producing and selling its profitable Cayenne sport utility vehicle. Instead of opting for a diesel, as most European brands have for their large luxury 'utes, Porsche has taken the hybrid route.

Porsche's system works differently than the one found in the Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander, or for that matter the Two-Mode system that DaimlerChrysler, BMW and General Motors have developed. Instead, the Cayenne system works in conjunction to an existing powertrain setup instead of replacing components, such as the gearbox or critical part of the engine itself, much like Honda's IMA hybrid assist with the electric components sitting in between the engine and the transmission. Unlike the IMA Civic, Accord and Insight, the Porsche system is not a mild hybrid, however, and is completely capable ofpowering the vehicle on electricity alone. And unlike any hybrid we've ever heard of before, it can travel up to speeds of 75 mph without the use of the gasoline engine. All components of the Cayenne Hybrid's new drivetrain are controlled by a computer that is capable of managing more than three times as many data parameters at any given time than the regular Cayenne.

The Cayenne Hybrid that Porsche is currently testing is based off of the base model, which features a 3.6-liter DFI (direct injection) narrow-angle V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. A 34 kW electric motor provides additional grunt, which is fed by a nickel metal hydride battery that's been fitted in the well normally reserved for the spare tire. Porsche will eventually replace it with a lighter lithium ion battery when the technology isavailable. Because many of the Cayenne's components, such as its power steering, air conditioning and power braking systems are controlled by the gasoline engine, Porsche re-engineered them to work under pure electricity. What's amazing about the Cayenne Hybrid is that in its electric conversion process, it hasn't lost any of its off-roading ability.

The initial goal of the hybrid system is to obtain an average fuel consumption rating of 24 mpg which is better than the standard V6's highway consumption, with a final goal of 26 mpg. The fact that the system is a parallel type hybrid allows it to be adapted to the V8-powered Cayennes as well, but Porsche doesn't have any plans for a more powerful application, although the thought of a guilt-free Cayenne Turbo is very appealing.

Eventually, this hybrid system will find its way into the forthcoming Panamera grand touring sedan, and reports speculate that the Cayenne's twins, the Touareg and the Audi Q7, will receive it as well, though it will be a little while before it arrives. In the near future, Volkswagen and Audi will utilize next-generation turbodiesel technology to improve efficiency of their large SUVs.