08 Aug 10 A Controversial Cayenne – the Cayenne S Hybrid

Jul 21, 2010 – 6:52:13 PM
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By CJ Staff

A Controversial Cayenne – the Cayenne S Hybrid

A Controversial Cayenne – the Cayenne S Hybrid

The Cayenne, Porsche’s lone V8-equipped SUV, isn’t exactly Porsche purist-approved. The 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid, debuting at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, only adds to the Cayenne’s controversial legacy. But why cry foul? An examination of the Cayenne S Hybrid shows that its technophobic nature is just what Porsche needs.

Sharing a platform with the Audi Q7, an ICE with the Audi S4, and closely related to the Volkswagen Touareg hybrid, the crossover Cayenne S Hybrid is the product of cross-corporate ingenuity, and Porsche’s first foray into the hybrid scene.

The Cayenne S Hybrid is a parallel full hybrid, distinctly different from demure cousins like the Toyota Prius. It mates a direct-injected, 3.0-liter DOHC V6 to a 47-hp electric motor/starter/generator powered by a 240-cell NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery pack, weighing a meager 152 pounds and producing a peak 288 volts. The entire powertrain provides 380 bhp and 427 lb-feet of torque. The battery pack fits in the former spare-tire well. An eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, with two overdrive gears, is a subtle snub to new-fangled CVTs.

For an overseer, Porsche installed an brain called the Hybrid Manager. The Hybrid Manager coordinates the power sources to create one seamless control system. The Hybrid Manager can reengage the ICE in a mere 0.3 seconds.

How capable is this system? Unsurprisingly, Porsche’s engineers crafted a phenomenal machine. With a top speed of 150 mph, the Cayenne is no soccer mom’s recreational vehicle, and it has a respectable 0-60 sprint at 6.1 seconds.

Porsche adds eco-friendliness to the Cayenne’s elegant performance. Achieving an EPA estimated 24 mpg (combined) is a gargantuan leap from the 13/19 mpg of the past Cayenne S. Porsche engineers equipped the Cayenne with “sailing,” which allows coasting up to 97 mph using only electric power. The Cayenne, driven by a reserved driver, can travel on all-electric power up to 31-40 mph. And, like most hybrids, the Cayenne employs regenerative braking and a stop/start ICE function. Two power modes, E-power (all-electric) and E-boost (complementary electric boost) complete the package.

How does this hybrid hulk handle? With an independent double wishbone front suspension, independent multilink rear suspension, and outfitted with Porsche’s baby of an AWD system, the Cayenne S Hybrid handles seamlessly. It is neither rollicking nor feisty, but it does deliver a creamy smooth ride and impeccable handling.

The interior is lavishly strewn with luxurious features, including:

• HD infotainment interface;

• Bluetooth/USB capability;

• Adaptive cruise control;

• Navigation system;

• 16-speaker, surround-sound audio system with rear DVD display;

• Rear-view park assist.

The Cayenne S Hybrid features a cornucopia of front and rear airbags, 4-wheel ABS, braking assist, sturdy A-pillars, traction control, stability control and a TPMS, all to protect its 4,398-pound body.

Will it sell? The hybrid is only expected to be 5-10% of U.S. Cayenne sales. But that isn’t the point. The hybrid is a poster child, meaning that fewer decibels do not mean tedium, efficiency does not mean lack of performance, and Porsche still means peak performance.

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Tags: Cayenne, Controversial, Hybrid
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02 Jul 10 The Honda CR-Z: Is this Honda Hybrid Really the New CRX?

Jun 23, 2010 – 11:18:04 PM
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By CarJunky Staff

The Honda CR-Z: Is this Honda Hybrid Really the New CRX?

The Honda CR-Z: Is this Honda Hybrid Really the New CRX?

The CRX is one of the most desirable cars of the 1980′s. Originally offered in regular, performance, and high gas mileage trims, it wasn’t long before enthusiasts realized almost any Honda engine would fit under the hood with just a little work. Combined with its sophisticated double-wishbone suspension this hatchback version of the Civic has long been a favorite both on the race track and the drag strip.

With such a storied history expectations were extremely high when Honda debuted its successor, the CR-Z, at the the Tokyo Auto Show.

Does it live up to that promise?

No.

The last year for the CRX was 1991. It weighs between 1,700 and 2,100lbs. depending on the model. The high mileage HF is rated at 47 mpg highway and 41 city under the new EPA estimates. The top-of-the-line Si could go from 0-60 in 8.5 seconds while costing the equivalent of about ,000 in today’s money.

The CR-Z will be in the same dealerships later this year as a 2011 model. It weighs around 2,800lbs and is expected to get an EPA-estimated 35 mpg city and 39 highway when equipped with a CVT automatic. The car takes 10.5 seconds to reach sixty miles an hour. List price should start at around ,000. While it does look like a modern interpretation of the CRX, early reports show the handling doesn’t compare to its predecessor, either.

In other words, while its styling looks similar to the CRX, it can’t match the performance, fuel economy, handling, or price of a car that was last seen in showrooms twenty years ago.

So, if the CRX was the small, fun version of the Civic, what does that make the CR-Z?

The small, fun version of the Insight.

Both the Insight and the CR-Z are hybrids based on the same platform as the Fit. They use the same Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, but the CR-Z ditches the Insight’s 1.3l engine for the 1.5l unit used in the Fit. Early reports show that the CR-Z fixes many of the complaints of the Insight, particularly ride quality. Most importantly early reviews have noted that steering and braking feel are the best of any hybrid to date, two things that have been a major issue with this type of car.

Maybe the comparison between the CRX and the CR-Z makes some sense: These days a “Hybrid” badge has the same caché as the “VTEC” badge had during the peak of the CRX’s popularity. Like its predecessor, the CR-Z is mostly aimed at being cool but if you can forgo several other cars in this price range offer more practicality. Honda’s own Fit offers nearly the same gas mileage at a much lower cost while the Civic Hybrid and Insight add back seats at the expense of driving involvement.

If you must have something that is clearly a hybrid but you don’t want a Prius look-alike nor do you want to sacrifice drivability the Insight may be just the car you’ve been waiting for. The rest of us will still be waiting for a true successor to the CRX.

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Tags: Honda, Hybrid, Really, this
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08 Aug 10 A Controversial Cayenne – the Cayenne S Hybrid

A Controversial Cayenne – the Cayenne S Hybrid

02 Jul 10 The Honda CR-Z: Is this Honda Hybrid Really the New CRX?

The Honda CR-Z: Is this Honda Hybrid Really the New CRX?

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