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Porsche SUV Enters the Hybrid Race, Finally

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Improves Mileage, Still Fat

Porsche was a little slow to jump on the SUV bandwagon when it released the Cayenne in 2002, so it only makes sense that the company is a little slow on the hybrid uptake as well. Finally, though, Porsche has come around and is showing off a prototype version of the Cayenne, charmingly called the Cayenne Hybrid (which isn't expected to go on sale until around 2010). It includes an electric motor nestled in between the traditional fuel engine and transmission that spins up when accelerating to assist the engine while pumping electricity back into the vehicle's batteries when braking.

However, like many recent luxury hybrids, the extra motor in the Cayenne will be focused on improving performance more so than mileage, or on cleaning up the environment. That said, the car, which currently hits the scales at a whopping 4,800 pounds (and will only be heavier in hybrid form), is still expected to deliver about 24 mpg -- a respectable boost over the current car's 18 mpg.

Here's to hoping the updated version of the car will also get an upgrade in the looks department at the same time, as the current design is in dire need of a refresh to tidy up that rather portly looking rear-end.

From gizmag

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Tags: Hybrid, Porsche Cayenne, PorscheCayenne

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