Porsche may not be known for the environmental qualities of its cars, but now the company is hoping to turn this around by proving that its cars can be economical if driven in the right way.
German motoring personality Klaus Niedzwiedz took on a challenge to see just how economical the 345hp (257kW) Porsche 911 Carrera could be if driven correctly. Equipped with Porsche's PDK dual-clutch transmission, Niedzwiedz managed to cover 400 miles (648km) on public roads, achieving a mileage figure of 35mpg (6.7L/100km). In the process, he easily outperformed the combined fuel consumption specified under the Euro 5 standard which, at 24mpg (9.8L/100km) already sets the required benchmark in this category of sports cars in terms of fuel economy.
During the challenge, the Porsche Carrera covered about 118 miles (190km) of the total route on country roads and 19 miles (30km) in city traffic, with the remaining distance on the Autobahn. The car’s tank was filled up prior to and after the test drive by a certified inspector of the German DEKRA Car Inspection Authority who also sealed the fuel tank and the engine compartment in the process. Under normal traffic conditions, with the headlights switched on, and with rain from time to time, the driver sought to keep the car’s engine speed between 1,800 and 2,000 rpm, with a road speed between 56–81mph (90-130km/h). The average speed achieved in the process was 52mph (84km/h).
In the words of test driver Klaus Niedzwiedz, “the result proves that with a lot of feeling and discipline you can even drive a 3.6L, 345hp (257kW) sports car very economically.” The test highlighted the efficacy of Porsche's new fuel-saving technologies, such as direct fuel injection, which improves fuel economy by more than 12%, as well as increasing power and torque. Porsche's dual-clutch transmission also provides significant fuel savings while cutting shift times and providing more performance.
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