Porsche Cayenne Toytota Hybrid Powered?

FRANKFURT, Oct 25, 2004; Reuters reported Automobilwoche said that Germany luxury carmaker Porsche is studying whether to build a hybrid version of its Cayenne sport utility vehicle using a Toyota Motor Corp powertrain.

The went on to report that a Porsche spokesman confirmed it was studying a hybrid version of the Cayenne but would not give more details.

Should current feasibility studies work out, Porsche would adopt the 270 horsepower petrol-electric powertrain to be used in the Lexus RX 400h SUV, Automobilwoche said, citing a Porsche source.

The RX 400h, based on the Lexus RX 330, is set to go on sale in the United States in December.

Hybrid technology could help Porsche meet tougher environmental standards in Europe and the United States, where rule changes are beginning to take effect. Stricter U.S. emissions regulations will be phased in through 2009. The United States is Porsche's primary sales market.

"The concept in our Lexus SUV would fit well on the Cayenne," it quoted a Toyota manager as saying, adding that Toyota's aim was to spread its hybrid technology worldwide.

Hybrid technology yokes an electric motor to an internal combustion engine so that cars run on battery power at slower speeds. The batteries recharge automatically and capture energy from braking.