Porsche skeptical about going green, pushes back Cayenne and Panamera hybrids

Originally Porsche wanted to launch the Cayenne hybrid SUV alongside the Audi Q7 hybrid which is set to arrive in 2008. Porsche had planned to launch the car right before the Audi Q7 hybrid hit the roads in order not to get overlooked. But now it seems Porsche executives are unsure about the sales prospects for a Porsche hybrid, pushing back launch dates.

“Though there is still no decision on the planned introduction date of the hybrid version of our Cayenne SUV, I’m sure we’ll only introduce the new system with the start of the next SUV generation in 2010,” a Porsche manager told Automotive News Europe.

Porsche will also be pushing back dates for the Panamera hybrid. The regular gasoline Panamera will still arrive in 2009, but the hybrid variant has been delayed until 2011 from the original 2010 date.

“We want to have time to analyze the experience with the Cayenne and, depending on what we find, launch the Panamera with hybrid drive then or perhaps as late as 2013,” a Porsche insider said.

 

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Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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