Porsche working on alternative powered sports car

    
    New CEO hints at future hybrid and electric vehicles at Frankfurt Auto
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MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 15 /CNW/ - Speaking publicly for the first time at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Porsche's new president and CEO, Michael Macht , revealed that Porsche is working hard on an electric-powered sports car that would meet the high standards of the Porsche brand.

"I am also convinced that one day Porsche will have an electric sports car in its line-up," said Macht at the company's press conference today. While he cautioned that so far the available battery technology is not "sufficient to meet Porsche's strict requirements," he said "our engineers are already working hard on this challenge."

"An electric sports car would therefore only make sense for Porsche if it offers performance and a cruising range similar to that of current sports cars in the market," he said. "We are therefore taking the first step in this direction with a full hybrid - in the Cayenne, the Panamera and maybe in the not too distant future also in a racing car or a production 911. Why not?"

Macht pointed out that Porsche has a long legacy with hybrids as it was 109 years ago that Professor Ferdinand Porsche built the first fully functioning car with hybrid technology.

Another highlight of the press conference at Frankfurt was Porsche's presentation of its new 2010 911 Turbo, the flagship of the venerable 911 range. "The 911 Turbo is the spearhead in innovation throughout Porsche's complete range of sports cars. It has been successful in the market for 35 years, accounting throughout this period for almost 80,000 units sold worldwide," said Macht.

Premiering alongside the venerable Turbo are a pair of asphalt-burning 911s, including the 911 GT3 RS and its race-ready sibling, the 911 GT3 Cup car.

Note: Photos of all Porsche models from Frankfurt are available to accredited journalists in the Porsche Press Database at http://presse.porsche.de. Footage material is available to registered users at http://www.thenewsmarket.com/porsche.

For further information: Laurance Yap, [phone], [email protected]