Showing posts with label hybrid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hybrid. Show all posts
Monday, June 10, 2013
2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Review
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| The 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. Green with grins. |
The very idea of a Porsche hybrid takes some big-time explaining for a lot of people. A $67,700 Porsche hybrid SUV even more so.
The Porsche Cayenne is the SUV in question, and to a lot of Porsche purists, it was the Porsche that wasnt supposed to be built anyway. It was counter to the marques mission of building laser-focused sports cars with 2 doors and low centers of gravity.
But the Cayenne has been a success. Porsche builds a lot of them and has built market share squarely on its broad shoulders. And since powerful SUVs have taken the biggest hit when gas prices get squirrely, wouldnt they be the perfect place to employ a little hybrid technology?
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| The 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. A few extra MPG for a couple extra Gs. |
Hybrid luxo-SUVs arent new anyway...three years ago, when TireKicker was a toddler, we spent in a week in and then wrote about the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid...which, in 2008 was 5 grand more than this years Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. The Porsche has the edge on performance (0-60 in 6.1 seconds), handling (elementary physics) and, as it turns out, gas mileage, though neither of them pump up the EPA estimates to Prius levels.
In fact, the Hybrid Cayenne S only gets about 2 miles more per gallon in the city and on the highway (20/24) than the non-hybrid version. But Porsche only charges a couple of grand more to make the gas/electric leap.
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| The 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Interior. You could get used to this. |
$67,700 might strike you as something of a bargain for the Cayenne S Hybrid...and youre right. For what you get, thats a fairly compelling base price. But with Porsche, the difference between base price and as-tested price often jumps by the price of a loaded Honda Fit once you get into the optional equipment. And thats what happened to our test vehicle. About $16,000 worth of options got poured onto and into the machine ($4520 of it for the Convenience Package alone), for an endgame (including destination charges of $84,950.
Yes, thats very different from $67,700, but its not out of the territory for Porsche buyers...who, with the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, get arguably the best of all worlds: An SUV that saves a bit of gas and a bit of the planet because its a hybrid, and is a Porsche.
Try as you might (and a lot of journalists have tried very hard the past few years to poke holes in the Cayenne), its tough to find fault with the finished product. It works like an SUV, goes and handles like a Porsche (okay, the center of gravity does affect things...but theres no other SUV that can play in the twisties like this one) and the hybrid system is unobtrusive. A dealer-accompanied half-hour test drive will have you wanting one. A week unsupervised (as we got) just makes it worse. If Porsche sent it back to us tomorrow, wed be happy campers.
Monday, May 20, 2013
2012 Volvo V60 Plug In Hybrid Diesel Short Update
2012 Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid Diesel - Volvo comes armed with announces its earliest images and consequently, detail specs of 2012 Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid within Geneva Motor Indicate. This can choose to be the earliest V60 Plug-In Hybrid just that could use the diesel engine. The particular diesel engine is truly being driven within the actual front wheels and consequently, an electric motor placed in order for the actual back axle.
This excellent sports auto wagon is certainly driven simply by 2.4-liter D5 turbo-diesel engine that will be capable of be able to create 160 kW of strength. Furthermore, 440 Nm of torque within typically the Plug-in. Moreover, at just typically the back, the actual Electric Back Axle Drive system is certainly driven simply by also, a 12kWh lithium battery power group and as well, makes 52kW of strength.
The actual 2012 Volvo V60 is most likely scheduled ready just for shipping within early 2012 within Europe. Unfortunately, typically the value is most likely not released.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Citroen DS High Rider 2010 Review A Modern Car With a New Full Hybrid Powertrain Diesel
Citroen DS High Rider 2010 Review - Citroen does not offer even the first steps to achieve a completely new concept that can reveal only potentially, in particular, announced at the Geneva Motor Show. DS HIGH RIDER is actually the second in particular the idea that the revolutionary Citroën DS and, in addition to a character style characteristic. Without a ban on a regular basis are usually more interesting coupe, DS HIGH RIDER also surprising that, in particular the radical vision of creating new aerodynamic volume with good volumes internal action dynamic, complex design and the perfect complement to good quality.
Presented information concerning the transaction manoeuvreing rewarding path dynamic, DS HIGH RIDER is simply to respect the general environment, and proceeded to "diesel-powered full hybrid, which strengthens the HDi DPF * engine below, in particular, the bonnet electric motor is placed particular reference to the rear deck. In particular, the hybrid platform thanks to DS HIGH RIDER to join the actual efficiency of fuel and also the strength of HDi diesel in particular with reference to the ecological benefits and the new generation of e- ZEV (Zero Emission Laughs).
Unlike four-seat court, with its long-term model, the base, the individual DS HIGH RIDER is very rational and so muscular. HIGH RIDER DS is really an expression of quality cars, and so the style - exemplified by its simple and bright gold paint brushed chrome also accentuate the flowing lines of the car. The roof is very special, which comes in layers with the truth, a textile coating material - offers a touch of high quality.
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