Ruf Stormster Green

It seems as though RUF just cannot be sensible, even when it is trying to be. The German tuning company that is world renowned for taking the already dangerous Porsche lineup beyond the bounds of sanity has built an all-electric version of the Porsche Cayenne. Following in line from the eRUF and “Greenster” concepts, this iteration, dubbed the “Stormster,” is powered a Siemens electric generated that is paired with what RUF claims are the first lithium-ion batteries made in Europe to feature ceramic storage technology. It was unveiled earlier this week in Copenhagen at the European COP15 conference on climate change.

With a curb weight of nearly 3,000 kg, the Sportster will reach 62 mph in about 10 seconds and maxes out at a top speed of nearly 100 mph. Not the kind of barnstormer from Pfaffenhausen we are used to then, but allowances must be made in the name of progress, I guess.

This story does leave me with one question: why are so many people using the Porsche Cayenne, a vehicle that is a cross between two of the thirstiest automobiles on the planet, the SUV and the sports car, as their launching point for green vehicles? Surely car makers are not that big a fan of irony.