Automobile magazine arrived in my mailbox today, and there's an article in it that says Porsche will be offering it's hybrid powertrain in the new Panamera also. The hybrid powertrain will make it's first appearance in the Cayenne in 2009. Online version of article: 2010 Porsche Panamera - Latest News, Features, and Reviews - Automobile Magazine I'm waiting to see this hybrid system find it's way over to Audi and Volkswagen. In another article in the print magazine, BMW is offering electric versions of the MINI to 500 people that apply on their website. If you want one, you better hurry up and submit your request at BMW's website. The initial 500 is a test/beta version. The vehicle is lease only. (p.32, Automobile, Feb.2009) An earlier thread on PriusChat about Porsche hybrids: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/40416-porsche-not-kidding-about-hybrids.html Update! Here's the craziest part of this whole thing ... I just found an article from ~exactly a year ago, claiming the same thing. Odd. http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/41526-porsche-provides-more-info-hybrid-gt-car.html
So are they taking a lesson from GM and talking about all the wonderful stuff they're 'gonna' do eventually and then not put anything out?
A year ago, the ICE Panamera was only a prototype. Now that it's 2009, the ICE production version is only a few months away. I think it's too early to tell. If Jan.2010 comes around and they still don't have a hybrid, then I'll agree with you. If Lexus is developing a hybrid, then BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, et al. better not just sit there and talk. Heck, Ford is even coming out with a Fusion hybrid in a few months. And, I wouldn't be surprised to see an Infinity G37 hybrid as soon as Nissan gets their hybrids completed. Even with gasoline down, the hybrid movement still has plenty of momentum. SUV plants continue to close and automakers continue to talk about hybrids. I think GM may be making a DEADLY mistake by thinking alternative fuel vehicles are dead (aka: putting the Volt on hold).
BMW has hybrid diesels already on the road(in Europe), and has an entire efficiency division, ala M division, called Efficient Dynamics division.
I wasn't aware that Efficient Dynamics models have been released by BMW. I thought they were still show cars (cause they are on this side of the Atlantic). I'll believe them when the Cayenne Hybrid comes out. It seems promising (70mph in EV mode). Porsche is very much an engineering company and I'm sure they have the brains to do good.
I remember Porsche saying something to this effect at least a couple of years ago. They will be using the same hybrid drive system found on the large GM SUV's, except Porsche's implementation will be similar to the one used on an upcoming Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid.
The deal/talk between Toyota and Porsche to use HSD broke down back in 2004. Porsche decided to work on their own system. 5 years later, we have yet to see a production Porsche hybrid. The next gen Prius will be out shortly. If Porsche used HSD, they would have a hybrid by now and probably cost less to develop as well.
