Super-fast Porsche may soon be super-green too… The Stuttgart-based manufacturer has approached Toyota with a view to sharing the technology successfully used in the Prius hybrid electric car.
Super-fast Porsche may soon be super-green too… The Stuttgart-based manufacturer has approached Toyota with a view to sharing the technology successfully used in the Prius hybrid electric car.
While proper negotiations are yet to get underway, a Porsche spokesman confirmed that the company was exploring the use of hybrid technology.
“We are investigating the technical feasibility of this kind of powertrain as an extremely interesting alternative to diesel engines,” he said.
According to a Japanese newspaper, Porsche is unlikely to use the hybrid technology in its smaller sports models. It will probably only be used in the Cayenne SUV range. It was noted in a German newspaper recently that Porsche was considering the 200 kW petrol-electric powertrain earmarked for the RX 400h SUV from Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division.
For Porsche to develop its own hybrid technology would be a costly exercise for the relatively small company. However, using hybrid technology would also help the company meet tougher environmental standards currently being implemented in the United States and parts of Europe.