Probably the most interesting figure stated during the Porsche press conference related to the company's history in fuel efficiency. According to Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, the brand's model lineup has averaged a 2 percent gain in fuel mileage, year-over-year, during the past 20 years. Two percent may not sound like much, but compare that to most automakers' history of fuel mileage over the past two decades. Porsche reps were also quick to point out that Ferdinand Porsche created his first all-electric car at the age of 23 and displayed it at the Paris auto show in 1900.
As for the future of "green" Porsches, you can expect not only a Cayenne Hybrid (capable of speeds up to 75 mph on pure electricity!) by the end of this decade, but a Panamera Hybrid to follow the sedan's 2009 launch.
But don't worry, the world's smallest independent automaker hasn't gone totally tree-hugger on us, as the bright red, 530-horsepower 911 GT2 on the company's show stand confirmed. And even if they are late to the hybrid game, Porsche's sales aren't suffering as a result. The 911 is up 10 percent for the year, while the Cayman is up 13 percent. The company is also rolling out a global strategy that has sales rocketing in the Middle East, China and Russia.
A possible Volkswagen takeover is starting to make sense. -- Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com
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I agree. I am underwhelmed by automakers' spin that they are so 'green' this year. I don't trust them. I would like to buy a new car. I am waiting for something that is truly 'green.' I want something that lets me sit up high so that I don't feel like I am in a tin can among all those other tall cars and trucks that you can't see around., and I want that vehicle to get AT LEAST 50 mpg. They could have had designed that years ago, but they chose to build obnoxious trucks and humvee and suv's that guzzle gas, and bamboozled the government to give suckers a tax break on those big stupid trucks. Now those suckers are stuck with these monstrosities. Shame on you. American car companies. No wonder your business are going down the tubes. I don't trust you any more, and lost my faith in you ten years ago. I guess it will be honda or toyota who figures out what I want.... again.
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Why not build cars out of foam rubber that bounces off other cars. They wouldn't weigh anything and would get great mileage. Maybe that seems dumb, but at least I am trying to think out of the box.
Compared with the 1900 all-electric! Makes a hybrid seem like a step backward. I really want to see that hybrid conversion. Amazing. What a line of crap the industry's been selling us.
Hey, I read the Cayenne article carefully, and the average mpg isn't anywhere close to 75 mpg -- thats just their coasting mileage. Peugeot already gets better than that and we don't even sell those wonderful zippy cars in the United States. Nooo..., we just have to be satisfied with hybrids that get 45 mpg and suck going uphill (I'm thinking the 2003 Honda civic hybrid here, as I've never driven a Prius) Come on! What is holding back the auto industry? Just see what the "tree huggers" are really doing: http://understory.ran.org/2007/11/14/ran-at-the-la-auto-show/
Weight. Particularly safety equipment. A Peugeot isn't required to have 100+ lbs. of safety equipment. Little things like that add up.
You need to read THIS article more carefully. Not saying the Cayenne gets 75 mpg, Said it will go up to 75 MPH without firing up the engine.
That's amazing, really. Aren't most limited to very slow speeds, 25 or so?