July 16, 2010 by Jon Alain Guzik Feel that? It’s the world being turned upside down. Why? Because Porsche has created a hybrid. Just try making sense of a two and a half ton, 3.0-liter V-6 hybrid SUV with the badge of a sports car tacked to the hood, because we can’t. What’s more, we can’t figure out for the life of us how to wipe this stupid grin off our face from the first time we threw Porsche’s first ever production hybrid into a sinuous bend. The Cayenne S Hybrid is a beast of a vehicle that lives up to Porsche’s sports car ethos and delivers an estimated 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. It’s pretty clear that someone in Germany has had every ounce of their cake, candles and all. What's to Like For a massive SUV...er, excuse us, Sport Activity Vehicle, with a self-contradicting powertrain, the drive is as unbelievable as immaculate conception. What’s more, the full hybrid system means you can achieve decent mileage numbers when you don’t stiff-arm the throttle. As with any Porsche, the interior is covered in miles of leather, wood and chrome. What's Not to Like Did we mention it’s a hybrid? Well, that means there are compromises. The Cayenne S Hybrid won’t ever drive as well as the Cayenne S , nor will it accelerate as quickly. Despite its green moniker, this hybrid’s economy numbers are still on the paltry side. The power lag as one motor’s gives way to the other is annoying. Let’s not forget the beast’s unholy price tag. The Drive
DriverSide Impressions There is a two-faced mania to the Porsche Cayenne that is built around the entirely new hybrid system. On the one hand, when using its 53 horsepower electric motor, it purrs around city streets with the composure of a Toyota Prius and is capable of running on electric power up to 40 mph before the gasoline engine kicks in – a true green car trait. However unlike many other hybrids we’ve driven, the Cayenne is good for more than a few laughs courtesy of the 333 horsepower, supercharged V-6. You’ll find a huge amount of power lurking within inches of your right foot when you stand on the throttle of this 4,938-lb green machine. It has enough power to make you sit up and listen the next time you hear hybrid and automotive future in the same sentence. Engine and Drivetrain Mated by way of a brand-spankin’ new eight-speed TipTronic automatic transmission complete with steering wheel-mounted paddles are two engines, a 38-kilowatt electric motor and 333 horsepower supercharged V-6 gasoline motor. Combined, the two put out around 380 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, delivering power to all four wheels via the Porsche Traction Management System, which ... |