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Print 17 comment(s) - last by Lemurion.. on Jul 28 at 10:36 AM

Porsche Boxster S
Company is likely preparing for production Spyder/Boxster electrics

German automaker Porsche is known for performance sports cars (and SUVs).  Thus its recent growing interest in sexy green-minded sports cars (likely fueled by American-based Tesla Motor's success) has been met with a mixture of enthusiasm and derision within the U.S.  Some praise the automaker for attempting something different, others laugh at the prospect of Porsche EVs tearing up the street.

Deaf to the criticism, Porsche is charging ahead.  The company announced that it is currently testing three fully electric-driven Boxster prototypes.  The platform driving the prototypes will likely be used in upcoming Boxster or 918 Spyder models.  The company has already announced a desire to produce a production plug-in 918 Spyder.

Porsche aired no technical details at this point.  However, its reasonable to assume that the EV sports cars' time on the track will be put to good use tuning control software to optimize performance both from a fuel economy and speed/drive power perspective.

As Tesla's Roadster has shown, there is a market for limited quantity luxury performance EVs.  And it is quite possible to engineer and produce such vehicles (Tesla sources parts from Porsche rival Lotus, among other companies).

In recent months Porsche has also been hard at work on a 911 GT3R hybrid racer and the new Cayenne hybrid SUV.

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I ain't anti electric sports car
By gixser on 7/26/2010 5:19:29 PM , Rating: 3
But I just don't think its for me. Its not about lack of performance (top speed, acceleration or range) because those things are already great or they will develop. Its really about feedback.

Admittedly I've never driven an electric vehicle but what I think is paramount in a sports car is feedback, engagement, noise, vibration, power delivery characterisrics and challenge. I assume "technology" will "enable" some of those characteristics but I don't think it will be quite right. I like double clutching and trying to master heel-toe shifting. I like the "foibles" of the ICE. I like changing my oil, putting in new spark plugs and filters. Shit, I enjoy the smell of petrol!

If folks are willing to buy an electric sports cars (or any electric vehicle) then more power to them. Maybe one day I too will be convinced that an electric sports car will push my buttons. I just don't see it happening soon.

Good luck Porsche and all the others. Here's hoping for a drop in price for all the old gas powered sports cars! :-)




RE: I ain't anti electric sports car
By martinrichards23 on 7/27/2010 7:53:53 AM , Rating: 2
Some people still enjoy riding horses too.


RE: I ain't anti electric sports car
By Wierdo on 7/27/2010 9:41:02 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure if that criticism or support. But yes, people DO enjoy riding horses too.


By Spivonious on 7/27/2010 9:55:40 AM , Rating: 4
While electric motors can offer much more instant torque than a combustion engine, I do agree with your sentiment. The sound of the engine and smell of the exhaust both contribute towards the driving "experience". I don't know if I will ever get that feeling from a CVT electric car, no matter how fast it goes.


RE: I ain't anti electric sports car
By lelias2k on 7/27/2010 3:16:53 PM , Rating: 2
While I do sympathize with your post, I can't avoid but feel that it sounds more like resistance to change than anything else.

The same way you believe they will develop performance, there is no reason to doubt that manufacturers like Porsche will pay extra attention to create a "regular" feel to electric vehicles.

While I don't think you will ever need to toe-shift an electric vehicle, noise, vibration, and power delivery characteristics will all be there, albeit in a different form.

The same way computers invaded our lives, so will alternative energy. And the same way computers made our lives better, even if not for all, so will these vehicles.

In the end you'll always be able to have your old school car that you will maintain yourselves. I mean, we have collectors now, don't we? :)


RE: I ain't anti electric sports car
By afkrotch on 7/27/2010 11:17:03 PM , Rating: 3
I'm guessing you don't know that there is a big difference between an electric motor and a combustion engine. You aren't going to get the same noise, vibration, or power delivery characteristics from the motor. I'm sure due to the way the power gets to the wheels, that it'll drive a little differently. Insta-torque comes to mind.

I also don't understand the point of calling it a Boxster anymore, if it's going to use an electric motor. Boxer + roadster = Boxster. If it doesn't have a boxer engine, it's not really one. Can call it an EVster or something.


By Lemurion on 7/28/2010 10:36:26 AM , Rating: 2
Only thing I hate is the name "Boxster" I think it's really stupid.


Is it just me...
By inighthawki on 7/26/2010 5:38:08 PM , Rating: 4
Or are all of the links on this page a darker blue than every other article on DT. (The default ugly-blue "hyperlink" color)




RE: Is it just me...
By Goty on 7/26/2010 5:44:45 PM , Rating: 2
Oh, thank God, I'm not insane!


RE: Is it just me...
By amanojaku on 7/26/2010 5:51:01 PM , Rating: 4
Yes, you are. Just for entirely different reasons. ;-)


RE: Is it just me...
By ssjwes1980 on 7/26/2010 8:26:54 PM , Rating: 2
For a sec I thought there was something wrong with my eyes lol thanks for saying you see it too.


RE: Is it just me...
By BruceLeet on 7/27/2010 1:53:33 AM , Rating: 2
The original hyperlinks looked teal to me, but it shouldn't bother anyone at all...they serve the same function. I guess it's just something to talk about.

Doubt I'll ever own an EV but it's nice to read about new ones especially from the higher end market, DT needs to research and talk about adoption rates.


Ok so..
By xler8r on 7/27/2010 7:44:42 AM , Rating: 2
I was hanging out in down town West Palm one day, and saw one of these guys, it was orange though, and literally had electric written on its door panel.
The first time it drove around I didnt think much of it, but the guy came around again like 5 times... lol. The thing was totally silent too. Are people modding these out to be electric too, or have they been out for a while...?




RE: Ok so..
By afkrotch on 7/27/2010 11:25:55 PM , Rating: 2
It's possible to convert any car to an EV, if one chooses to do so. As for the Boxster, they aren't even out yet. The guy probably did a conversion and I'm sure it'll perform like a pig, unlike what Porsche will be offering.


how punny...
By Iridium130m on 7/26/2010 5:03:37 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Porsche is charging ahead




By BZDTemp on 7/26/2010 5:58:12 PM , Rating: 2
Porsche needs a car which offer high mileage.

There are demands on all EU automakers to have their cars reach certain environment criteria. The rules of those demands calls for average numbers meaning a company producing gas guzzlers can offset this by also making and selling cars which offer high mileage - or they can make sure all their cars do pretty good and skip on making cars that do great (for now).

Aston Martin is trying to cope by putting a Toyota IQ with a Aston badge on the market and it seems Porsche are a bit more sensible as in trying to better the whole range. Still Porsche know optimizing the lot is not enough hence the move seen here.

Car makers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Rolls Royce, Bentley and so on are all part of larger car groups so they need not do any big tricks. For example Fiat owns Ferrari so all the small Fiat's means Ferrari is covered.




i want
By Etern205 on 7/26/2010 6:17:07 PM , Rating: 2
Hamster's human powered Porsche which can run on anything!




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