Porsche goes green with hybrid version of Cayenne

Jul 23, 2007, 11:55 GMT

Stuttgart, Germany - German sports carmaker Porsche said Monday it will offer a hybrid version of its popular Cayenne sports utility vehicle by the end of the decade.

The hybrid Cayenne is due to cut fuel consumption by about 30 per cent, while retaining its driving dynamics, Michael Leiters, the engineer in charge of the programme, said.

At a time of growing debate about climate change, a market leader like Porsche has to offer cars with low consumption and emission levels otherwise general acceptance for the brand would decline, Leiters said.

He said the new hybrid would consume 8.9 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres, compared to 12.9 litres for the most economical Cayenne model on the market today.

Hybrid technology uses a gasoline internal-combustion engine and an electric motor that operate independently or jointly.

Porsche's announcement comes as European Union legislators are seeking to get automakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to an average of 130 grammes per kilometre by 2012.

Porsche is developing the hybrid with Germany's largest automaker, Volkswagen and with VW subsidiary Audi. Leiters said a hybrid version would also be available for the 4-seater sports coupe Panamera which is due to come on the market in 2009.

Other German top-flight manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are developing hybrid models in partnership with United States concern General Motors.