Porsche News - Porsche green has solar sheen

Porsche green has solar sheen

Filed under: Etc., Solar, Porsche, USA

Although Porsche may not employ a lot of green tech in their cars (though that is starting to change), the same can not be said of their facilities. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) has just installed a huge solar array atop their operations in Ontario, California. With design and implementation from HelioPower and using panels from Sharp Solar Energy Solutions, the iconic sports car brand can now boast of having 135,000 carbon-free kWh a year courtesy of the 372 modules in the setup. That’s enough juice to power a fleet of 60 Ruf Greensters for a year (YMMV)! It’s one of the biggest solar arrays in the area and the locals are impressed enough with their efforts that the Inland Empire’s Green Valley Initiative (GVI) are giving them a “Certificate of Recognition.” Exciting times indeed. Press release after the break.

[Source: Porsche Cars North America]

Continue reading Porsche green has solar sheen

Porsche green has solar sheen originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche News - First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid

First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Porsche, First Drive

While charging along at 85 mph with a particularly poker-faced Porsche engineer riding shotgun, traffic begins to cluster on the horizon. Not willing to risk our seven-figure prototype, I gently roll off the accelerator, at which point a funny thing happens: Without warning, the tachometer needle dies, unceremoniously plunging to zero RPM. The supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 ahead of us has gone stone dead, yet our Porsche Cayenne continues to waft along unruffled. We are coasting along on the Autobahn, with only a modest bit of wind noise and tire roar as our soundtrack.

Just as quickly as it began to appear, Stuttgart’s traffic thins, and after gliding along for perhaps 15 or 20 seconds — losing remarkably little velocity — I ease back onto the throttle, at which point the rev counter jumps back to life just as quickly as it had extinguished, and the Cayenne eases back up to 95 mph before I slot in amongst slower traffic in the right lane. Beyond the tachometer’s telltale drop and jump, there is exactly no indication that the engine momentarily packed it up just seconds before. My copilot, Dr. Michael Leiters, project manager for Porsche’s Cayenne Hybrid, allows himself a brief smile.

Far from indicating a mechanical defect, we’ve just witnessed what our Deutsche companion refers to as “segeln” — sailing — a fuel saving maneuver that Porsche says other automakers have written off as impossible without jolting disruptions. Yet beyond the tach needle’s machinations, there has been no drama whatsoever: no untoward thwack in the back, no expensive-sounding noises, no head toss, no coffee spilled, just seamlessly reintroduced acceleration. The gas pedal simply called upon the engine again and the electric motor restarted it in a flawless, 300-millisecond passing of the power baton. Remarkable stuff.

Follow the jump for more.

Continue reading First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid

First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche News - First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid

First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Porsche, First Drive

While charging along at 85 mph with a particularly poker-faced Porsche engineer riding shotgun, traffic begins to cluster on the horizon. Not willing to risk our seven-figure prototype, I gently roll off the accelerator, at which point a funny thing happens: Without warning, the tachometer needle dies, unceremoniously plunging to zero RPM. The supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 ahead of us has gone stone dead, yet our Porsche Cayenne continues to waft along unruffled. We are coasting along on the Autobahn, with only a modest bit of wind noise and tire roar as our soundtrack.

Just as quickly as it began to appear, Stuttgart’s traffic thins, and after gliding along for perhaps 15 or 20 seconds — losing remarkably little velocity — I ease back onto the throttle, at which point the rev counter jumps back to life just as quickly as it had extinguished, and the Cayenne eases back up to 95 mph before I slot in amongst slower traffic in the right lane. Beyond the tachometer’s telltale drop and jump, there is exactly no indication that the engine momentarily packed it up just seconds before. My copilot, Dr. Michael Leiters, project manager for Porsche’s Cayenne Hybrid, allows himself a brief smile.

Far from indicating a mechanical defect, we’ve just witnessed what our Deutsche companion refers to as “segeln” — sailing — a fuel saving maneuver that Porsche says other automakers have written off as impossible without jolting disruptions. Yet beyond the tach needle’s machinations, there has been no drama whatsoever: no untoward thwack in the back, no expensive-sounding noises, no head toss, no coffee spilled, just seamlessly reintroduced acceleration. The gas pedal simply called upon the engine again and the electric motor restarted it in a flawless, 300-millisecond passing of the power baton. Remarkable stuff.

Follow the jump for more.

Continue reading First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid

First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche’s Cayenne S Hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]porsche cars, porsche news, porsche models[/tags]

Porsche News - Porsche releases details on the upcoming Cayenne S hybrid

Porsche releases details on the upcoming Cayenne S hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Porsche

Porsche has just released more information on the new Cayenne S Hybrid that will finally launch in 2010. The company has changed up its powertrain plans since originally announcing the hybrid. Instead of the older 3.6L normally aspirated V6, it will now use the new supercharged and direct injected 3.0L found in the new Audi S4 and A6. The 333 hp V6 is paired up with a 52 hp electric motor sandwiched between the engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. The combination of the engine, motor and nickel metal hydride battery can propel the Cayenne to 62 mph in 6.8 seconds.

The 154 lb battery pack occupies the spare tire well. As a strong hybrid system, the Cayenne can operate in electric, internal combustion or blended modes. The motor and battery have enough power output to allow the SUV to run on electricity at speeds up to 82 mph when cruising on level ground. The hybrid motor also replaces the conventional alternator further reducing parasitic losses in the system. Porsche expects the hybrid Cayenne to top 26 mpg (U.S.) on the NEDC combined drive cycle, slightly better than the 25.3 achieved by the new diesel.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche releases details on the upcoming Cayenne S hybrid

Porsche releases details on the upcoming Cayenne S hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche News - Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel

Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel

Filed under: Diesel, Porsche, Geneva Motor Show

Porsche started building the new Cayenne diesel SUV several weeks ago but the German sports car maker will publicly show it for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks. Like its platform-mates the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7, the Cayenne uses the VW group 3.0L TDI V6. The 240 hp diesel engine allows the new Cayenne to be the most efficient variant yet by a long shot. The Cayenne diesel is rated at a combined 25.3 mpg (U.S.) on the European cycle. The 405 lb-ft of torque motivates the Cayenne to 62 mph in 8.3 seconds with a top speed of 133 mph. The 25.6 gallon fuel tank gives the Cayenne a bladder-busting range of 620 miles. Like its siblings, the Cayenne is only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. So far, Porsche hasn’t indicated any intention of offering the diesel Cayenne in the U.S. market even though the engine is already certified for the Audi and VW. The press release is after the jump.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel

Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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