Who made the world's first hybrid car? It's Toyota right? Not really. Although it's natural to think so because of the Prius, the first hybrid car was born 111 years ago, and was made by none other than Porsche. The name might instantly evoke the image of an unforgiving, thoroughbred racecar, but it was Ferdinand Porsche who made what's considered the world's first petrol-electric hybrid in 1900. The Semper Vivus, meaning ‘always alive' in Latin, built for Viennese coachmaker Ludwig Lohner & Co, featured two combustion engines and an electric motor. And it had motors built into its large wheel hubs. So, as wrong as it might sound now, a hybrid Porsche is just a natural progression of what Herr Porsche started.
Introducing the Cayenne in 2002 was probably the most profane act Porsche has committed in its long history. Although it went on to become one of the most successful models in its stable, there are still a good number of Porsche aficionados who haven't digested it. And that included us at wheels, until they introduced the 2011 Cayenne which is a far cry from the bulbous previous generation.
It has now got a longer wheelbase leaving a lot more space inside, and Porsche has raised the bar with a luxurious cabin inspired by the spaceship-like interior of the Panamera. We were so impressed that it sped away with our Premium SUV of the year award.
The Cayenne S Hybrid retains all the goodness of the new model and adds a powertrain that makes it more eco-friendly. It's powered by a supercharged 3.0-litre V6, the same unit that does service in a number of Audis as well as the recently launched Panamera Hybrid. The engine, which is good for 333bhp on its own, is mated to a 47bhp electric motor taking the overall figures to 380bhp and 580Nm of torque, available from as low as 1,000rpm.
So, there's nothing radically different in here in comparison to the other hybrids available. Just like the other cars, the hybrid system in the Cayenne S Hybrid consists of an electric motor which acts as a starter and a power generator charging the 288-volt nickel metal hydride battery that's stowed under the luggage area, and the usual tricks like energy recuperation and auto stop-start.
It would appear the car is an exercise in lowering the company's Corporate Average Fuel Economy figures; an average number taken from all the models manufactured by an automaker. But it's not all meaningless gimmicks either. What caught my fancy most was the ‘sailing' mode, which cuts the engine off when you lift off the pedal at cruising speeds. I found myself doing this quite often, thanks mainly to the exhaustive information system complete with charts and graphs showing fuel and emissions figures. And if these charts are to be believed the car does go a long way in saving the planet. I was amazed by the emission figures for my rush hour trip from Al Safa on Shaikh Zayed Road to Al Qusais via the Airport Tunnel, which was mostly through stop-start traffic. Out of the 42 minutes taken to cover the 27km route, 24 minutes were emissions free. That's a whopping 56 per cent of the trip. It's not as good on the highway, as it's mostly powered by the petrol engine at speeds above 60kph.
One flip side to this is the extra weight from all those hybrid components. At 2,240kg, it's 71kg heavier than the Turbo and 175kg over the regular S. Although not much on paper, it shows in the way the S Hybrid handles in comparison.
Verdict
With Dh63,530 worth of optional equipment, our test car was priced at Dh374,230, which is still a good Dh100K cheaper than the Cayenne Turbo. It's got more power and torque than the regular V6 or the diesel, and with 193g/km of CO2 emissions and a combined fuel efficiency of close to 20mpg, it strikes a perfect balance between power and economy. So, if you're planning to go for an SUV in the sub-Dh400K range and you want to feel good about doing your bit for Mother Earth, then the 2011 Cayenne Hybrid is without doubt your best bet.
- Model Cayenne S Hybrid
- Engine 3.0-litre V6 supercharged and electric motor
- Transmission Eight-speed auto, AWD
- Max power 380bhp @ 5,500rpm
- Max torque 580Nm @ 1,000rpm
- Top speed 242kph
- 0-100kph 6.1sec
- Price Dh374,230 as tested
Green delight
1. Hybrid system comprises a supercharged V6 engine and hybrid module with synchronous electric motor and decoupling clutch.
2. Monocoque construction with a lightweight steel body shell.
3. 288-volt NiMH battery sits under the floor of the boot.
4. Recuperative brake system facilitates regeneration of brake energy, which is sent to the battery.
5. Fully independent double wishbone suspension up front and multi-link in the rear.
