Ferrari, Lotus or Porsche: close your eyes and picture a vehicle from any of those world-famous manufacturers and you’re likely to envision a dream car with sleek lines, an eye-catching body and incredible power. Fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions are unlikely to creep into the fantasy image.

Indeed just a month ago the Green Piece Column (see article) examined some of the green sports cars headed our way – but they were generally restricted to offerings from relative upstarts like Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive. The big name sports car makers it seemed were just carrying on, business as usual.

However, this year’s Geneva Motor Show has changed all that as one after the other, some of the biggest names in the sports car field revealed that they too have developed a green conscience. Let’s take a look at what’s coming from some of the motoring industry’s most respected car makers:

Ferrari – F1 technology goes green

Based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, the Italian carmaker unveiled the Ferrari HY-KERS in Geneva – a vehicle that features a lightweight hybrid drivetrain with system components located below the centre of gravity (see article).

The HY-KERS still has F1 technology and the performance characteristics of a typical Ferrari but manages to reduce CO2 emissions by around 35 per cent. It can even operate as a full electric vehicle in city traffic.

In addition, Ferrari has also introduced a stop and start system into the Ferrari California model that slashes fuel consumption and emissions by six per cent.

Lotus – A green triple threat

The Lotus Elise is one of the most sought-after super cars in the world and its transformation in Geneva is perhaps the most telling of all (see article). The new Elise now has the lowest CO2 performance for a petrol sports car in the world at less than 155g/km with fuel efficiency at 38mpg – yet it can still race from 0-60mph in just six seconds and achieve a top speed of 124mph.

However, Lotus’s green contributions to the show did not end there. It also unveiled the PROTON Concept (see article), a plug-in hybrid car which uses the Lotus Range Extender engine and can be charged using a domestic outlet to achieve electric-only operation when the vehicle is first used.

Also making its debut was the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid Concept which produces 414PS of power and can accelerate from 0-60mph in less than four seconds (see article). It has an electric range of 35miles; a total hybrid range in excess of 300miles; and, according to Lotus, its total lifetime CO2 emissions is lower than that of a fully electric car with comparable performance.

Porsche – A hat-trick of hybrids

Few manufacturers have been as busy at Geneva as Porsche, which has introduced a hat-trick of hybrid cars at the event.

Perhaps the most eye-catching is the plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder concept car (see article) that is powered by a high-speed V8, can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than three seconds and can achieve a top speed of 198mph. However, despite these remarkable performance statistics, the plug-in hybrid technology makes it strikingly efficient with fuel consumption at 74.8mpg and emissions at 70g/km of CO2.

Also revealed at the event was the new Cayenne S Hybrid (see article), which slashes fuel consumption by 23 per cent compared to the previous model thanks to features such as auto stop-start, thermal management and intelligent lightweight construction. Fuel consumption is 28.75mpg and CO2 emissions are just 193g/km. Completing the set for Porsche is the 911 GT3 R Hybrid that includes a flywheel energy recovery system developed by Williams for F1 racing (see article).

And don’t forget…

Though Ferrari, Lotus and Porsche may have stolen the show in Geneva, they aren’t the only manufacturers with exciting green sports cars in their line-up.

Others to look out for include the Honda CR-Z (see article), dubbed the world’s first hybrid sports car and that is scheduled to be released in Europe this summer. Also coming is the Vauxhall/Opel Flextreme (see article), a range-extended concept with a total range in excess of 300miles and fuel consumption at 174mpg; and the Bentley SuperSports Convertible (see article) that boasts an impressive top speed of 202mph and yet is able to run on petrol or E85 bio-ethanol; and all of these on top of the aforementioned Fisker Karma and Tesla Roadster.

What now appears blatantly apparent is that no leading car maker can afford to rest on its laurels with regards to green technology. Consumers want fast, powerful, exciting super cars that still save money in the forecourt and slash emissions – and now it seems they are going to get them.

Faye Sunderland

Forget a one-two punch – it’s a hat-trick of hybrids for Porsche at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Having already introduced the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid with flywheel KERS (see article) and the Cayenne S Hybrid (see article), now the company has revealed a plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder concept car.

This exciting two-seat model is powered by a high speed V8 that develops 500bhp at 9,200rpm and also boasts electric motors on the front and rear axle with a mechanical output of 218bhp. The engine is a further development of the 3.4litre power unit that is used in the RS Spyder, and power is transmitted by a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe that also feeds the electric drive system to the rear axle. Meanwhile, a grid-chargeable lithium-ion battery pack is positioned behind the passenger cell. The Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid can accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 3.2seconds and has a top speed of 198mph.

Despite its remarkable performance figures, the vehicle also boasts excellent fuel economy with fuel consumption at 78.4mpg and emissions at 70g/km of CO2.

In addition, there are four different running modes which a driver can select by pressing a button on the steering wheel. These are: e-drive, to run the car on electric power only with a range of 16miles; hybrid mode that uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine; sport hybrid that uses both drive systems but with a focus on performance; and race hybrid with the drive systems focused on pure performance with the highest standard of driving dynamics.

The brand new generation of the Porsche Cayenne Sports Utility Vehicle will make its world debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March.

The vehicle cuts fuel consumption compared to the former model by 23 per cent thanks to a host of green features including the new Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission with auto start stop; thermal management on the engine and transmission cooling circuit; variable engine cut-off; intelligent lightweight construction; and on-board network recuperation. Fuel consumption is 28.75mpg, while CO2 emissions have been cut to 193g/km.

The hybrid Cayenne S is powered by a 333hp 3.0litre supercharged V6 engine and a 34kW electric motor. Together the two units deliver a maximum system output of 380hp as well as peak torque of 580Nm. To help with fast acceleration, the electric motor provides additional thrust through its boosting effect and the combustion engine can even be switched off at speeds as high as 97mph when no further power is required.

Along with the Cayenne S Hybrid, three of the five new Cayenne models consume less than 10 litres of fuel per 100km and two models emit less than 200g/km of CO2. Other models in the range include an entry level 3.6litre V6; a Cayenne Diesel that achieves 31.8mpg; a Cayenne S with a 4.8litre V8 power unit; and a Cayenne Turbo with a 4.8litre V8 bi-turbo that consumes 20.5mpg.

It may not be the first car manufacturer you think of when you consider who does the most for the environment – but Porsche is clearly looking to encapsulate a new, green image.

Having recently announced the launch of another Porsche hybrid car (see article), the sports car specialist will now make a 40,000sq m area on the rooftop of its central spare parts warehouse in Sachsenheim available to Goldbeck Solar GmbH for the company to install and operate 8,500 photovoltaic modules there.

The electricity will be fed into the grid of energy provider E&W Eichwald GmbH with the system having a nominal output of two megawatts.

Installation is scheduled to begin before the end of the month with the system connected to the grid just a few weeks later. It is believed it will be able to generate close to two million kilowatt hours per year – that’s the equivalent of the average energy consumption of 500 four-people households. The move will also save around 1,780tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Anticipation for March’s Geneva Motor Show is building, and now Porsche has announced that it too will debut a hybrid car at the event.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R hybrid for production-based GT racing will be showcased with its flywheel energy recovery system that was developed by Williams Hybrid Power initially for Formula One racing.

Among the features of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid is an electrical front axle drive that includes two electric motors that develop 60kW and each supplement the 480bhp four litre flat-six at the rear. Without the usual batteries of a hybrid car, the electrical flywheel power generator recaptures energy and delivers it to the electric motors.

The generator itself is an electric motor with a rotor that spins at speeds up to 40,000rpm. It is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes and, when necessary, such as for overtaking, the driver can call on the extra energy supplying up to 120kW to the two electric motors at the front.

Not only is hybrid drive used for extra power however, it is also used to save fuel boosting the vehicle’s efficiency and performance and reducing the need for pit-stops.

Once it has made its debut in Geneva, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested on the Nurburgring and it will be included in the 24Hours of the Nordschleife of Nurburgring on May 15-16.

With emissions from 310g/km of CO2, the Porsche Cayenne is probably one of the last cars you would ever label as ‘green’.

But at the Copenhagen climate summit, the Cayenne proved otherwise. Designed by tuning specialist, Ruf, an electric version of the Cayenne was unveiled at the COP 15 summit and will be displayed there until the summit is scheduled to close on Friday, December 18.

Named the eRuf Stormster, the electric 4×4 is powered by an amazing 367 bhp electric motor and lithium-ion batteries. The SUV can hit sixty in under 10 seconds, reach a top speed of around 93mph and will run 125 miles on one charge.

However its performance is more impressive when its weight is taken into account too, weighing in at a staggering 2670kg, it is heavier than the Cayenne Turbo. Its ‘Li-Tec’ battery pack with ceramic storage can be fully charged from a high-output 400V power supply in just one hour.

According to Auto Express (with pictures available here), reports suggest that the electric SUV will be produced in small numbers, available either with the standard Cayenne body or RUF’s sporty ‘Stormster grün’ kit, complete with bright green paint. No details of when the vehicle might hit the road have yet been revealed.

At an incredible meeting yesterday, Volkswagen AG’s Supervisory Board approved an agreement to create an integrated automotive group with Porsche.

The group will be led by Volkswagen with corresponding agreements negotiated by Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE as well as the Porsche and Piech family shareholders and the employee representatives of the companies.

In addition, Porsche Automobil Holding SE’s Supervisory Board has approved the concept for the combination of the two companies with the agreement sealing a joint group with 10 strong brands, the plans for which will culminate with Porsche SE and Volkswagen merging.

The agreement will see Volkswagen initially take a 42 per cent stake in Porsche AG by the end of the year with the family shareholders selling the automobile trading business of the company to Volkswagen. Porsche will remain an independent company. Meanwhile, negotiations will continue with the Emirate of Qatar to acquire options on Volkswagen shares.

Professor Dr Martin Winterkorn, the chairman of Volkswagen AG’s board of management, said that the events marked a “decisive step towards a joint future” and commented that “more than ever before we now have what it takes to become the automotive industry’s number one”.

The merger is expected to be completed during 2011 and will require the approval of both companies’ shareholders.

Rarely a name most of us associate with fuel efficiency, vehicle manufacturer Porsche celebrated a victory in the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24hr race – and also won the energy efficiency classification Michelin Green X Challenge as the car with the best overall efficiency.

The vehicle in question is the RS Spyder, from the Danish consumer team, which beat its rivals by 15 laps. However, Porsche representatives were just as pleased with the environmental award. The Spyder has now won the energy efficiency challenge at all races and championships in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the American Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series.

Porsche head of motorsport Hartmut Kristen was keen to highlight the vehicle’s environmental success and believes its triumph underlines its status as the world’s most efficient sports prototype.

“We’re proud that in customer hands the RS Spyder not only confirmed its high speed and reliability again but also won the environmental classification,” he said.

With more than a quarter of a million vehicles sold since its launch six years ago, the Porsche Cayenne is one of the few success stories in the modern era. In fact, in the fiscal year from 2007-2008 more than 45,000 models were sold around the world.

Now, Porsche is working on a Cayenne Hybrid which it hopes will lead its emergence in the high performance green car sector.

Porsche has joined forces with Volkswagen to develop a production vehicle with a parallel full hybrid drive that will be introduced to the market in 2010. Its drive power will come from a supercharged 3.0litre V6 that has a direct fuel injection which interacts with a 38kW/52bhp electric motor. This acts as an additional source of power and boosts the output of the petrol engine.

Among its unique features is its ability to smoothly cruise or roll along with the combustion engine switched off. This allows drivers to save fuel at speeds of 86mph.

The electric motor also serves as a booster for extra power. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and will consume less than nine litres per 100km in the new European Drive Cycle. This means its emissions are less than 210g/km of CO2 – 20 per cent less than a conventional vehicle comparable to the Cayenne with similar levels of power. Based on a six cylinder engine, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the output of an eight cylinder with the fuel consumption of a four cylinder.

The Cayenne S Hybrid will reach showrooms in 2010.

The Porsche Panamera promises to be one of the most exciting additions to the green car world as a high performance vehicle that can achieve remarkable fuel consumption figures predicted to be in the region of 31mpg. Now its efficiency will be boosted even further as it will be equipped with the Michelin Pilot Sport and Pilot Alpin tyres.

The summer and winter tyres respond to Porsche’s requirements in terms of handling and comfort and help to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Michelin claims this success is based on its ability to improve different areas of tyre performance. It states that high technologies along with know-how and understanding of materials help to meet the challenge of reducing the vehicle’s environmental impact while still delivering superior handling and safety performance.

The Pilot Sport has undergone 90 minute tests at speeds in excess of 300km/h with 20 minute bursts at 350km/h.

The goal of the Panamera is to be the first car that combines dynamic qualities with the highest levels of driver and passenger comfort. Testing was conducted at different locations around the world and even at temperatures of -25°C in order to test the winter tyre rubber compounds.