Porsche delivering double-digit improvements in fuel economy across entire current model series
28 October 2010
Porsche is consistently targeting improving fuel economy with each model change. Depending on the model, the savings achieved by all currently available model series in comparison with the corresponding predecessors lie in the double-digit percentage range while simultaneously offering significantly increased performance.
With consumption reductions of 20 to 23% in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the savings achieved by the new generation of Cayenne models are the highest. However, the new generations of the 911 and Boxster/Cayman sports car model series launched in 2008 also revealed savings of up to 16 and 15% respectively.
In the sports cars with naturally aspirated engines, the vast majority of these reductions, 0.5 and 0.6 L/100 km respectively, is attributable to the switch to direct fuel injection and the introduction of the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) instead of the five-speed automatic torque converter transmission Tiptronic S.
These measures also enabled a 911 vehicle to dip beneath the mark of ten liters of fuel per 100 kilometers for the first time: the 345 hp (257 kW) 911 Carrera with PDK consumes 9.8 l/100 km (24 mpg US). In comparison with the predecessor model, this equates to 13% less fuel consumption and 15% lower CO2 emissions. The Boxster and Cayman models are also benefiting from the new drivetrain technology. Direct fuel injection and PDK allow fuel consumption in both the 310 hp Boxster S and the 320 hp (239 kW) Cayman S to be reduced by 15% to 9.4 L/100 km (25 mpg US).
The two new six-cylinder Cayenne and Cayenne Diesel models consume 20% less fuel than their predecessors, while fuel consumption in the two V8 Cayenne Turbo and Cayenne S models has been reduced by 23%. The new highlight within the model series—the Cayenne S Hybrid, to be launched this weekend—offers the greatest fuel economy: it consumes 8.2 L/100 km (29 mpg US). The Cayenne S Hybrid has official fuel consumption estimates using current EPA test protocols of 21 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
If the Cayenne S Hybrid, with its total power output of 380 hp (283 kW), is compared against the 385 hp (287 kW) Cayenne S from the previous generation, the reduction is actually 40% with better performance in certain disciplines. Three out of five Cayenne models remain beneath the mark of ten liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the NEDC, with two offering CO2 emissions of less than 200 g/km.
Amongst other measures, this significant reduction in consumption across the entire Cayenne range has been attained via the introduction of the new eight-speed automatic transmission Tiptronic S with automatic stop/start function and a wide gear ratio range, due to thermal management for the engine and transmission cooling circuit, by vehicle electrical system recuperation and variable deceleration fuel cutoff and weight reduction and intelligent lightweight construction.
A weight-optimized material mix and modifications to the overall vehicle concept such as the new active and light four-wheel drive system have enabled the weight of the Cayenne Turbo, for instance, to be reduced by 185 kg despite improved product substance and increased safety. This not only impacts extremely positively on consumption and CO2 emissions but also on performance, agility and handling.
They should keep going with the efficiency improvement, and perhaps even build a lower power (say 250bhp) version with lower performance, but much better fuel economy.
I suppose the question is - what does this do to the brand ?
A luxury brand like Porsche is a delicate thing - you have to be very careful with it and not do a "Ratners" on it.
Still, a 35-40 mpg Porsche would be worth having, especially in countries with speed limits.
Posted by: mahonj | 28 October 2010 at 03:39 AM