In addition to the recently confirmed 918 Spyder hybrid sports car, Porsche plans to test electrified Boxsters and will soon add a hybrid version of the Panamera sedan. The vehicles all fall under what the manufacturer calls the Porsche Intelligent Performance Initiative, a decree to combine high performance with reduced emissions.The three all-electric Boxsters will be experimental vehicles used to help Porsche research battery and electric-drive components in real-world driving. While there are no solid plans at the moment—at least none being made public—CEO Michael Macht says we can reasonably expect an all-electric Porsche at some point in the future.
We also now have official confirmation that the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid will enter production in 2011. It will use the same drivetrain as the Cayenne S Hybrid that will launch later this year. The powertrain marries the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine from the Audi S4 to a 47-hp electric motor. Based on our experience in the hybrid Cayenne, we expect the gas-electric Panamera to offer performance near that of the V-8 Panamera S
