At the recent Geneva Auto Show, Porsche unveiled the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid prototype concept, a super sports car with performance rivaling the Porsche Carrera GT, but also able to achieve 78 miles per gallon (mpg) of gasoline (that's on the New European Driving Cycle, which generally yields higher fuel economies than U.S. testing standards).
Porsche achieves the high performance with a 500-horsepower (hp) V8 engine, front- and rear-axle motors that together generate 160 kilowatts (kW), or 218 hp, and a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four modes: E-Drive, for electric power only (with a range of 16-25 miles); Hybrid mode; Sport Hybrid mode; and Race Hybrid mode. The latter three modes allow the driver to adjust the balance of performance and fuel efficiency.
The Spyder prototype has an enviable emission level of just 70 grams CO2 per kilometer on fuel consumption of three liters/100 kilometers (equal to 94 mpg imp). And it has a top speed of 198 mph.
The Spyder won’t be commercially available for a while, but Porsche also showed off the Cayenne S Hybrid sport utility vehicle, which will be available in May 8.
The new hybrid combines a supercharged V6 with a 34-kW electric motor to achieve a fuel efficiency of 34.4 miles per gallon on the European cycle and CO2 emissions of jut 193 g/km. The Cayenne S Hybrid combines the performance of an eight-cylinder with the economy of a six-cylinder running on much less fuel.
A special combination of materials and a new extra-light all-wheel drive have reduced the vehicle’s weight 400 pounds compared to non-hybrid models.
The vehicle has two drive systems, one combustion and one electric, that work together. When fast acceleration is called for, the electric motor can provide an extra boost. At other points, the combustion engine may be switched off and the car can sail along on electric power.
All recent Porsches have been developed according to the principle of “Porsche Intelligent Performance,” leading to more power on less fuel, greater efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. Fuel consumption in the new models has decreased up to 23 per cent.
source: energyboom
