Porsche CEO says "No hybrid sportscars"

[Timpo]

Report: Porsche CEO Says No Hybrid Sports Cars

By Nelson Ireson
Car Expert
January 7th, 2010

It's no secret that hybrids are a snooze-fest for the curve junkie, and accordingly Porsche CEO Michael Macht has no need for them, according to the latest report. The news is sure to please purists, and not just for the obvious reasons.

It's not that hybrids can't be sporty--we're looking forward to Honda's CR-Z to raise that bar--nor is it that Porsche doesn't have the technical capability to do a hybrid 911. It's just that they're heavy and complicated.

Macht also thinks that the average Porsche sports car wouldn't see much of the benefit of a hybrid powertrain since most aren't driven primarily in the city, where the low-speed electric assist provides the most help.

But wait, you say, Porsche is making hybrid versions of the Cayenne and Panamera! True, and though no one would call the Cayenne a sports car, as vicious an SUV as it is, apparently Porsche doesn't consider the Panamera one either. That's not news to the four-door-hating purists, but it may be some cold solace.

Porsche isn't completely divorced from the reality of the green curtain, however, and Macht recognizes the potential for an all-electric sports car. But that won't happen until it's up to Porsche's standards for a gasoline-powered sports car in terms of performance and everyday ease of use. When that might happen is anybody's guess, but Audi and Mercedes are already hard at work on their first electric supercars.

Regenerative braking, however, is a go, though without a hybrid system to power, it will most likely be used to take the load of accessories, improving efficiency by reducing the load on the engine.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...aspx?AR=246247

[GabAlmighty]

Good man, he's got his head screwed on properly.

[cococly]

Let's see how Ferrari reacts with their upcoming 599 Hybrid..

Future GTRs,EVOs,and STIs are very likely to be hybrids too.



Can Cargo vessles be hybrids too? They should be emitting more "Greenhouse gases".

[!Aznboi128]

Originally Posted by GabAlmighty

Good man, he's got his head screwed on properly.

true that

hybirds of the Cayenne and Panamera is alright but rather have a diesel .... v12 twin turbo diesel

[q0192837465]

diesel will never fly in North America. There's just not enuff supply if automotive world catches on.

[xpl0sive]

diesel was catching on slowly until the new diesel standards were introduced... the price of diesel went up to gasoline levels, fuel economy went down... for most people, paying a premium to have a diesel engine instead of a gasoline one stopped making sense

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

good move, who needs hybrid in a sport car

[GabAlmighty]

Originally Posted by aznboi128

hybirds of the Cayenne and Panamera is alright but rather have a diesel .... v12 twin turbo diesel

So. Much. Epic. Win. Earth shattering torque, and black smoke everywhere!