Porsche's hybrid hustings

Hybrid drive will figure prominently in Porsche's future. The manufacturer long ago confirmed a hybrid version of the Cayenne will arrive by 2010. But during the launch of the Panamera at Shanghai this week (more here) company spokespersons also revealed we can expect a hybrid version of the new four-door sports car by 2011.

The 'hybridised' units for the Cayenne and Panamera will come in the form of V6 engines sourced from the VW Group; presumably the same 3.6-litre V6 FSI engine with 34kW electric motor as used by the VW Touareg hybrid which was announced early this year.

Porsche's Executive Vice President Wolfgang Durheimer told assembled journalists that the company's drive towards hybrid technology had already seen road use. He also commented on the development of the non-Porsche RUF 911 electric car (more here).

Durheimer believes that introducing petrol-electric hybrid-drive systems is more appropriate technology for Porsche cars than the pure electric RUF. He says the majority of owners are unlikely to endure traffic conditions requiring a stop/start function -- another type of technology intended to reduce fuel use in normal driving.

And while the company isn't intending a return to smaller capacity four-cylinder engines anytime soon, Durheimer confirmed that Zuffenhausen is looking at adopting VW's forced-induction and direct-injection technology and, possibly, more diesel-engined models. [Porsche recently launched a TDI version of the Cayenne all-wheel drive.

Durheimer's denial that Porsche will adopt four-cylinder engines has been gainsaid by a report in other media, but it's clear that report is specificially positing four-cylinder engines in Boxster and Cayman, rather than the 911 or the front-engined models. We'll keep our ears to the ground on this and let you know of any further developments.

Porsche is keen to leverage existing Volkswagen Audi Group technology for its hybrid models. The company is not averse to 'selling' the fruits of its own engineering endeavours. The Panamera's platform was "made by Porsche, for Porsche", but company spokespeople told the Carsales Network that its use for other company purposes is not out of the question.

So, will we see a lightweight Bentley or four-door Lamborghini (more here)?

"Technically and in theory it is possible to use the platform under the Panamera for other products," confirmed Porsche Cars Australia Communications Manager Paul Ellis.

"But at this stage there are no plans to do that, and no initiative from Porsche to do that because we're just focussed on bringing the Panamera to market."

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