Porsche Australia’s Chef has stressed the importance of the brand’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies, particularly in ensuring the longevity of petrol-powered high-performance cars in the longer term.
Speaking to the media at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Daniel Schmollinger, Managing Director and CEO of Porsche Cars Australia, said: “Hybrid technology is very important to us.”
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in these cars. From a use case perspective, we’re also seeing that a lot of (our e-hybrid) customers are actually driving predominantly electric, which I think is a very good thing because it prepares and supports the transition to fully electric vehicles in a very positive way,” Mr. Schmollinger continued.
That’s in contrast to Ferrari, which says its PHEV owners don’t regularly plug in their cars to charge. The CEO of General Motors has also claimed that most PHEV owners don’t charge their cars.
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When asked whether E-Hybrid technology could one day be introduced into the legendary 911 sports car to preserve the high-performance models with combustion engines, the Porsche boss replied: “We don’t know.”
“Will there ever be a 911 (a plug-in) so you can actually drive electric? That’s not the case at this point. We don’t know what the future will bring.”
“But I think (the 911 T-Hybrid) is well positioned as it is, with a petrol engine supported by electric technology. I think we’re doing very well on this path,” Mr Schmollinger added.
Porsche Australia unveiled the new 911 Turbo S at the Melbourne Grand Prix alongside the all-new fourth-generation Cayenne Turbo Electric, with the former featuring the brand’s new ‘T-Hybrid’ technology.
While the 911 Turbo S can’t run in zero-emissions “EV” mode like Porsche’s “E-Hybrid” PHEVs, it produces a whopping 523kW/800Nm from its 3.6-litre flat-six engine, complemented by two 400V “eTurbos” fed by a 1.9kWh battery – making it the most powerful Porsche 911 street car of all time.
The new Cayenne Turbo Electric is now the most powerful road-legal Porsche production model of all time. With two electric motors that produce a massive 850 kW/1500 Nm, the flagship Cayenne EV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h just as quickly as the new 911 Turbo S – both achieve a sprint of 2.5 seconds.
Elsewhere in the lineup, the third-generation Cayenne (which continues to be sold alongside the all-new EV version) and the flagship Panamera luxury liftback and station wagon are Porsche’s hallmarks offering plug-in electric hybrid powertrains.
The Cayenne E-Hybrid and Panamera E-Hybrid ranges use VW Group technology shared with other brands and models from the German giant and offer full electric capability for limited distances, around 80-90km depending on the model.
There could also be a new, third Porsche PHEV.
Last year, Porsche boss Oliver Blume confirmed at an investor call that the German brand would “secure” its EV strategy by developing “a compact SUV with combustion engine and hybrid versions” to complement the Macan Electric.
He said the company is “accelerating the process there with very short development times” and expects the new mid-size SUV to be introduced in key markets “by 2028 at the latest.”
Of course, since the petrol Macan replacement has just been given the green light, Mr Blume didn’t reveal too much about the vehicle, but he did say it was “very, very typical Porsche for this segment and would also be different from the BEV Macan”, leading some to speculate that the new SUV will have a different name.
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