Porsche accelerating fuel economy efforts
Based on the claims Porsche as made about the hybrid system that they have developed for the upcoming Panamera and next generation Cayenne, they seem to be pretty advanced as far as parallel setups go. However, Porsches currently burn enough gasoline to be a serious problem with the new European CO2 limits. As a result the German manufacturer is actively recruiting engineers with experience on hybrid systems to help develop new state of the art hybrid technology. The company is evidently running want ads in Britain's Financial Times.Porsche is also looking at other ways to reduce fuel consumption including weight reductions like the magnesium doors on the new Panamera. They are also adding direct fuel injection to their engines which should provide a boost in both power and efficiency. In the past Porsche has been openly dismissive of diesel engines saying their weight and torque characteristics was incompatible with its cars. However, the success of newer high-performance diesels such as the Audis and Peugeots at Le Mans - as well as on the road - may be causing them to revisit that attitude too.
[Source: Just-Auto - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 4:06PM (1/30/2008)
Porsche will have little choice but to offer diesel engine for the Cayenne before long. Presumably, it would be a souped-up version of a VAG design, perhaps with sequential turbos.
The 911 and its derivatives are currently based on flat-six gasoline engines. Subaru has produced a flat-four diesel but I expect Porsche wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. The notion of a diesel engine in a true high-performance sports car still rubs far too many True Believers (tm) the wrong way. Therefore, for this product line, it'll have to be engine downsizing (incl. boost system), hybridization and E85 compatibility. Of course, putting a turbo in anything but *the* 911 Turbo would give Porsche's marketing department a real headache. Perhaps they'll decided to give pressure wave superchargers (e.g. Hyprex from Swissauto Wenko AG) a second look.
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Andrew Tanasescu 4:22PM (1/30/2008)
I wouldn't mind a Diesel Porsche at all.
And what about Ferrari and Lamborghini. Dont they have anything to worry about? I remember posting a link on this site once discussing the emissions of a Porsche relative to others cars, and frankly they aren't THAT bad. I could think of a ton of cars that are worse polluters and have worse performance.
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mrbell321 5:48PM (1/30/2008)
Porsche should drop the Cayenne entirely anyway. It's everything a Porsche shouldn't be. Ferdinand is turning in his grave at 6000rpm.
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