2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S on 2040-cars

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Next-gen Porsche 911 may include plug-in hybrid version

According to Auto Express, there's a plug-in hybrid Porsche 911 on the way, and it could arrive as soon as the introduction of the next-generation car. At the Detroit Auto Show, the UK outlet spoke to 911 product line director Dr. Erhard Mossle, who said the Stuttgart automaker was "working on different solutions" for the next iteration of its most iconic car, and, "of course, we are discussing plug-in solutions for the 911, but there are a lot of things to solve with packaging in the car and other things to solve. It will maybe be in the next generation, yes." "When we see the 911," he said, "we see the plug-in hybrid as a performance car." Since we just saw the introduction of the turbocharged powerplant in the 911 Carrera last summer, we can expect a wait of at least four years for the next powertrain evolution. Mossle said that any 911 PHEV would remain a sporty proposition and likely retain the flat-six engine, which would give more prestige than the four-cylinder 718 (Cayman and Boxster) yet still be able to satisfy emissions regulations. Mossle is echoing the comments made by Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board at Porsche, at the Detroit show when Blume said the production version of the Mission E concept would be a sports car that happens to be electric. As far back as 2009, in fact, Porsche has been openly discussing an electric 911, the caveat even then being that it has to perform like a Porsche while providing decent range. In the middle of 2014 it was reported that the carmaker might make a 700-horsepower 911 Turbo S hybrid, by the end of 2014 it was reported that the automaker wouldn't make a 911 hybrid. A year after that first report, a 911 hybrid was back on, using the E-Hybrid system supposedly dismissed six months before, and then last November we got spy shots of a 911 with a supposed PHEV port. But with its Mission E work, and being designated to lead the Volkswagen Group's R&D into performance hybrids, a battery-boosted 911 might finally make sense. Related Video:

2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

Porsche's Performance Plug-in Preamble
By the end of this year, Porsche will be producing as many plug-in vehicles (two) as mainstream automakers such as Toyota, Chevrolet and Honda. Before the 2015 918 Spyder hybrid supercar goes on sale in the US, though, it will be warming its customers up to the idea of a plug-in model with the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid. A step up from the previous Panamera S Hybrid, the new plug-in Panamera adds a more powerful and advanced electric drive system that pledges to deliver the performance expected of a Porsche with the added benefit of improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Going on sale in November, the Panamera S E-Hybrid is aimed at customers also considering the upcoming plug-in version Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the car's dimensions and performance could make it a competitor for Tesla Model S customers. We headed to Germany at Porsche's invitation to see how well it performs, as well as check out the full range of newly refreshed Panamera models, which now numbers nine offerings - although we're still waiting for a production version of the gorgeous Sport Turismo wagon concept.

Criminal slices through Porsche's roof just to break in

Porsche fans, look away. This footage of a thief in London slicing his way into a classic 911 might be too much for lovers of the sports car to bear. Police released CCTV footage of the September break-in in the hopes of scaring up information that could lead to an arrest, the Daily Mail reported. The man pulled off his brazen daylight crime spree in the posh neighborhood of Mayfair in central London. It started when he tired to steal an older, red Porsche 911. Unable to pick the lock, he sliced through the roof with a large knife and hopped inside through the hole. Several people simply walked past the Porsche, now blaring its alarm in distress with its roof in tatters. The man then jumped out the same way he entered when he couldn't hotwire the car. To add insult to injury, the man used the large rear spoiler as a springboard to the street. It seems this suspect had brand loyalty. Witness told police they saw a man fitting the same description attempting to steal a GBP80,000 Cayenne nearby only 20 minutes later. He also threatened onlookers with a large knife. Unable to nab either Porsche, he robbed a nearby sportswear store, taking running shoes and a tracksuit. When the staff tried to stop the thief he also threatened them with a knife. Despite the multiple witness and video evidence, there are still no leads in the case. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. Related Video: