Porsche's hybrid 4x4 Cayenne has drawn praise from one reviewer who believes the manufacturer has created a feat of engineering.

Writing for autoblog, Richard Bremner is keen to point out the seamless changes the Cayenne displays when transforming from its electric propulsion method to its combined petrol-electric system.

Prestige car hire enthusiasts may be interested in news that the hybrid boasts a 20 per cent saving in fuel compared to the V8 model, a respectable combined consumption of 34.5mpg and improved CO2 emissions of 193g/km, which help its eco-credentials.

However, despite its environmentally-friendly nature, the Cayenne hybrid has been designed to retain the sporting dynamic found on the other models in the range.

A reduction in weight of 180kg contributes to the car's better performance, economy and agility.

"From where we sat this 2010 Cayenne looks like a solid all-round improvement, while the hybrid version provides an intriguing way to make this performance SUV usefully more acceptable to both your wallet and your conscience," Mr Bremner writes.

This new second generation Cayenne is due to be launched at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March.

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Posted by Terry Mitchell