2013 Audi A3

Report: Porsche CEO Says No Hybrid Sports Cars

 
3 6,856 views Jan 7, 2010
Follow Nelson

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo

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.

[Autocar]





Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (3)

  1. By  winter olympics Posted: 1/7/2010 7:01pm PST

    Porsche is making a hybrid, it'll be on sale this year (panamera), followed by another next year (cayenne). So this "manufacturer IS jumping on the 'hybrid' bandwagon".
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By  Remi Ramcharan Posted: 1/28/2010 1:13pm PST

    I don't know what to think of this.
    Just a couple of years ago Porsche said no to the SUV and what happened... Thanks to the Cayenne (love that car BTW) it is now the most profitable sports car manufacturer in the world.
    Following that course, they also said NO to the diesel engine. And yes, it happened, last year they introduced a diesel engine in the Cayenne.
    So it would not surprise me if in just a view years time, with some smart marketing, there will be a 911 hybrid! VW group wants her brands to be as profitable as possible and that is not a crime. But yes, identity will be lost in some models.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. By  ds accessories Posted: 1/28/2010 11:11pm PST

    Hi Guy's,
    Hybrids are a waste. The gains in fuel efficiency versus cost never really seemed logical to me.There are gas cars that get as good or better mileage then hybrids, so stick to ICE until batteries are where they need to be.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!

More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.