Porsche Shows its Cayenne Performance Hybrid

Yes, you read that right. A hybrid from Porsche is on the way in the form of the automaker’s Cayenne SUV. Prototypes of the hybrid Cayenne are already on the road, combining Porsche’s 3.6-liter V-6 engine with an electric motor.

The Cayenne Hybrid will likely slot just above the base Cayenne in terms of speed, sprinting to 60 mph from a standstill about a half second quicker. But how green will it be?

With tighter automotive restrictions on the horizon in the European Union, even traditional sports car makers like Porsche are concerned with fuel efficiency. The goal for the hybrid Cayenne is over 26 miles per gallon, a large improvement over the 18 mpg average of the current base Cayenne.

The hybrid system will be optimized for high speed driving and will run on electric-only power at speeds of up to about 75 mph – much faster than today’s hybrids. Would you expect anything else from Porsche?

The new hybrid system – which the company is developing with help from Volkswagen and Audi – will also find its way into Porsche’s upcoming Panamera coupe/sedan. While earlier reports suggested the Cayenne Hybrid could start production as early as 2009, we’ve heard more recently that Porsche may wait until at least 2010 when the next generation Cayenne comes out, with a hybrid Panamera following later. Stay tuned.