For Off-Roaders: Porsche’s Cayenne Hybrid

A pre-production version of Porsche’s Cayenne Hybrid was shown to reporters last Friday, it’s most noteworthy feature being its certified off-roading capabilites. Jalopnik reports that it can ford 20 inches of water and that mileage on the vehicle is improved by 20%. By the time of its unveiling, Porsche hopes to offer 26 miles to the gallon with its system which will also be used in other Porsche as well as VW/Audi products (the development of the Cayenne Hybrid a joint project with Volkswagen).

As detailed in its press release:

Other unique features of the Cayenne Hybrid designed to decrease fuel consumption include the power steering and vacuum pump for the brakes, as well as the air conditioning, which operate on electric power. Technical components, such as the oil pump in the Cayenne’s automatic transmission, have been replaced by electrically powered units. The Cayenne Hybrid’s electro-hydraulic steering – a first for a vehicle of its kind, will ensure the Cayenne Hybrid drives like a Porsche with predictable and safe handling characteristics and the agility that is expected of a Porsche SUV.

Porsche plans to introduce similar hybrid technology in a version of its Panamera four-door Gran Turismo. The Panamera will debut in 2009, with a hybrid to follow.

[via Jalopnik]