Porsche Highlights New Hybrid and Electric Endeavors

But even though car companies like Toyota, Honda or Tesla have been leading the way and getting the most publicity out of it, prestigious performance car manufacturers aren't far behind.

Porsche, surprisingly, is among them.

The German company has just detailed its newest hybrid and electric strategy, under the Porsche Intelligent Performance banner. We've already seen the first manifestation of this project in the form of a hybrid version of the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV.

Even though it is a hybrid, the Cayenne still outputs more than enough power. It uses a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine, capable of 329 HP, together with an electric motor that can develop 46 HP. Together, a joint output of 375 HP is achieved, while maintaining the fuel average and CO2 emissions at a lower level than the regular Cayenne SUVs.

The next step in the Intelligent Performance program will be the launch of a Porsche Panamera hybrid. The powerful sedan will arrive next year, and boast almost the same power-train as the Cayenne Hybrid. Expect fuel average to be even better, as the Panamera doesn't weigh as much as chunky SUV. Power will be sent through a Tiptronic eight-speed gearbox, which will allow bursts of electric-only propulsion, for a limited time and distance.

Sticking to hybrids, the German company is also heavily promoting the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car. The model uses a 480 HP 4.0-liter flat-six engine that drives the rear wheels, but also two electric motors, which can output 80 HP and send that power to the front wheels. The car was already raced in the famous 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance event, and even managed to lead a part of the race.

2011 will also be the year when Porsche will be testing out its new all-electric power-train technology. The company recently revealed that it will build three prototypes, based on the Boxster convertible sports car. They will be tested around the company's native city of Stuttgart, Germany.

It is expected that key insight from these tests will be fed back to the Porsche Intelligent Performance program, so that other systems can be developed, while the existing ones will be refined.

While all of the aforementioned things are all fine and dandy, the crown jewel of the company's alternative propulsion efforts is the Porsche 918 Spyder.

The car was revealed this year at the Geneva Motor Show as a concept, boasting a plug-in hybrid power-train. While that may not sound so attractive, hardcore Porsche fans were stunned by the fact that it uses a 3.4-liter V8, capable of 500 HP, together with three electric motors, packing a combined output of 218 HP.

As you can imagine, the possibility of a 718 HP Porsche super car that can achieve an estimated 78 mpg with 70 g/km of CO2 emissions, made a lot of people extremely anxious. After many months of speculation and rumors, the German company has officially revealed that the Porsche 918 Spyder concept will be produced in the future.

Not a lot is know about the production-ready 918, but expect most of its specs to remain intact. The car will no doubt be part of a limited series, so you'd better start saving up right now.

With hybrids already roaming the roads and electric models soon to be produced, Porsche's Intelligent Performance program is definitely on the right track.