Porsche Cayenne S e-hybrid plugs in

PORSCHE has added a third plug-in hybrid to its range with the launch of the new Cayenne S e-hybrid at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, with a claimed fuel-economy figure of just 3.4 litres per 100km.

Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller says the latest Cayenne – which follows the e-hybrid Panamera and the 918 hybrid supercar – gives his company the largest range of plug-ins of any of its premium competitors.

“The mobility of the future needs to be environmentally friendly and easy on resources and our answer to this is plug-in technology, which offers the perfect blend of sustainability and sportiness,” he said.

The Cayenne S e-hybrid combines a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with an electric motor for a combined total output of 310kW and 590Nm, which propels it to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 243km/h.

In electric-only, whisper-quiet mode it can travel up to 36km (not as far as Lamborghini’s plug-in concept) at a top speed of 125km/h.

Its electric motor is driven by a 10.8kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged in 2.7 hours with a basic on-board charger, or 1.3 hours with a more powerful 7.2kWh version.

Its CO2 emissions are 79 grams per kilometre and Mueller claims the car sets new benchmarks for fuel efficiency and emissions in the premium SUV class.

The car certainly shows that Porsche is serious about plug-in tech because it is part of the company’s biggest-selling range.

Mueller pointed out that the Cayenne now carries his company on its giant back, having sold 580,000 units since 2002.

“The Cayenne secures the financial basis for our investment in future sports-car generations,” he said. Which is meant to make us all feel better about the fact that Porsche is now an SUV company that makes sports cars on the side.