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It was the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid inspired by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, or Dr. Victor Frankenstein?

Purists howled, as the company founded by Dr. Porsche Cayenne published in 2003. After the production is nothing but sports cars for 63 years, Porsche is selling a luxury mid-size crossover, as almost all manufacturers of other cars on the planet. Although the similarity with the 911 first, the rest was pure blasphemy - attached five-door, four-wheel drive and an engine in the front.

But Porsche knew what he was doing. The 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid has become the best-selling vehicle in the company, supported by a range of choices include a V8 engine twin-turbo 4.5-liter 520-hp bent, just enough to push it from zero to 60 in under 5 seconds. The benefits may also invest in companies already existing sports cars, which in the current approved version of the 911.

But now, put the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, the fans, even a curve - a hybrid version called the Cayenne Hybrid. It combines a 3.0-liter V6 engine compressor and an electric motor to produce a combined 380 horsepower rating, while 20 city and 24 highway miles per gallon by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

It 'better than the BMW X6 Active Hybrid (17/19 mpg) and compete against three German diesel-crossover, the BMW X5 xDrive 35d (19/26 mpg), Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC (18/25 mpg) and Audi Q7 TDI (17/25 mpg).

But a test of the week in the Portland area has shown a number of weaknesses in the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. It includes a clutch to get the V6 engine, which the company calls the "veil" triggers. But the renewed effort is slowly and clearly, if the speed increases. Not only that, but the regenerative braking to recharge the battery for more than most other hybrids again. Therefore, our test hybrid Porsche Cayenne S has been difficult to drive smoothly in the city and passing on highways.

These problems can be eliminated with more aggressive driving the Cayenne S Hybrid or save in a sport mode that seems to replace the hybrid system. But it reduces the mileage, the negation of the main reasons for buying a hybrid vehicle, in the first place.

There are advantages, however, ignore the mileage. Aggressive or pushed in sport mode, the Cayenne S Hybrid offers much more fun and a good mix of acceleration, handling and braking. The steering is light and direct, the brakes are much better, and the transmission moves quickly through the gears.

The turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 is built by Audi and even offered their A4 and A5. And 'smooth and responsive, which produces 33 horsepower more than the base, normally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 Cayenne. Porsche should have the offer of non-hybrid form of thought, produces slot between the base 3.6-liter V6, 300 hp and high-end twin-turbo V8 that cranks 500 horsepower from 4.8.

Check the interior of the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid model is one of his strengths. Similar to the equally controversial four-door Panamera sports, has a center console that angles towards the console between the front seats. The console will contain a lot of buttons that were originally in the dashboard, making it look cluttered, and is easily accessible. Expected that other manufacturers make similar designs in the coming years, the controls for the many high-tech features that are standard to accommodate even on entry-level cars.

Porsche has not been afraid to take on the challenge of the purists in the past. Volkswagen has published a 914 in the United States in 1969. The first front-engined four-cylinder 924 model was introduced in 1976, and later with the front-engine, V8 engine 928 after two years.