ATLANTA -- Porsche AG will decide this year whether to produce a plug-in hybrid version of its iconic 911 sports car, CEO Matthias Mueller said.
And it's also feasible for Porsche to develop plug-in versions of all the vehicles in its lineup, Mueller told Automotive News.
"Why not?" Mueller said. "That is a technique which we at Porsche are very familiar with, so we can suppose that we could have plug-ins all over the model range, not only to save fuel but also to boost the performance of these cars."
Porsche already offers three plug-in hybrids: the 918 Spyder supercar and variants of its Cayenne cross-over and Panamera sedan. Porsche has said about 15 percent of U.S. Panamera sales are plug-in hybrids and that the plug-in Cayenne, which went on sale this year, will contribute 10 to 12 percent of that nameplate's U.S. sales.
The 911 will "possibly" be the next one, Mueller said, as Porsche leaders are "negotiating about that."
One mantra Porsche executives have had when it comes to plug-in technology is that the vehicles must deliver true Porsche sports car performance.
That is especially crucial with the brand's flagship 911.
Though a final decision about a plug-in hybrid 911 hasn't been made yet, Mueller sounded positive about the prospects.
Mueller said, "We are firmly convinced that the plug-in technology is the solution for the nearer future."
