Porsche Announces U.S. Pricing and Availability for Cayenne S Hybrid

The Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid will go on sale in the U.S. this November, with prices starting from $67,700, excluding destination charges. Rated by the EPA at 21 mpg in the city (11.2 lt/100 km) and 25 mpg on the highway (9.4 lt/100 km), the Cayenne S Hybrid will not be subject to a gas-guzzler tax, as is the case with all other 2011 Cayenne models.

To achieve such relatively low consumption figures, while nearly equaling in performance the 400 hp (298 kW) V8 Cayenne S, the hybrid variant of the firm's SUV makes use of a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 gasoline engine, capable of delivering 333 hp (or 248 kW), and a 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor. The latter is able to power the German SUV at low speeds and for short distances, so you can minimize fuel consumption in heavy traffic.

Interaction between the motors is governed by the Hybrid Manager, which uses a decoupling clutch to power the car by either the electric motor or the combustion engine alone, or by both drive units together.

The hybrid system's combined output is rated at 380 hp (279 kW) with a peak torque of 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) delivered at just 1,000 rpm.

Performance is equally good, as the Cayenne S Hybrid can reach 60 mph (96 km/h) from standstill in just 6.1 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h).

By Csaba Daradics

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Porsche is Reducing Fuel Consumption with every New Model it Introduces

No manufacturer, not even performance orientated Porsche, can ignore the "green wave" that has hit the automotive industry. With hybrids and EVs becoming increasingly popular, it's clear that sports cars have to step it up a notch.

It doesn't really matter to pencil-pushing government officials that, in the real world, high performance vehicles aren't driven as much, so, in the overall scheme of things, they actually pollute a lot less than your suburban folk's Prius. They just want to see numbers.

So, Porsche is going greener with each new model it is launching, the Cayenne being the vanguard of this effort. The Germans achieved significant fuel savings in the New European Driving Cycle (or NEDC), ranging from 13 to 23% for all available model series in comparison with their predecessors. This means all Porsches using naturally aspirated engines consume 0.5 to 0.6 less liters of fuel per 100 km.

The Stuttgart firm's engineers achieved this by switching over to direct fuel injection and adopting newer transmissions like the PDK dual-clutch auto and the Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic. Other measures taken to make Porsche as green as ever are massive weight savings (i.e. 185 kg/408 lbs for the new Cayenne Turbo) - and we'll be seeing more of that in future models.

The 911 Carrera with PDK consumes only 9.8 lt/100 km (24 US mpg), while the Boxster S and the Cayman S do with 9.4 liters per 100km (25 US mpg).

The Cayenne is even more frugal, with the Cayenne S Hybrid really shining on this task. Good for a total output of 380 hp (283 kW), Porsche's hybrid is almost as powerful as the previous generation Cayenne S (385 hp/287 kW), yet it returns a combined 8.2 lt/100 km (28.7 US mpg) representing a 40% gain in fuel economy with CO2 emissions of 200 g/km. Wealthy tree-huggers rejoice.

By Csaba Daradics

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TechArt Teases New 2011 Porsche Cayenne Magnum

Having sold more than 1,000 units of its first-generation Porsche Cayenne Magnum models, it's only natural for German tuning house TechArt to develop a successor based on the freshly launched second-generation Cayenne. Teased here for the first time, TechArt's new Magnum program for the 2011 Cayenne will be given its world premiere at the Auto Zurich Car Show in Switzerland, which runs from November 11 to 14.

The tuning program will include a full body kit with a new front bumper that includes LED daytime running lights and additional xenon units, a carbon fiber hood, rear apron, side skirts, wider fenders and a roof spoiler. The sport exhaust tail pipes and newly designed alloy wheels in sizes between 20- and 23-inches will complete the exterior package.

For the interior, TechArt will offer customers a variety of options ranging from bespoke leather upholstery and unique three-spoke steering wheels to roof-mounted entertainment kit.

The aftermarket tuner is also preparing a host of performance enhancements with engine kits plus suspension and braking system upgrades. Specific details will be released after the presentation of TechArt's Magnum program at the Swiss auto show.