While other automakers focus on implementing self-driving technology, Porsche’s speed-control technology does not take over steering control. Increasing cornering forces is viewed as a way to maximize both excitement and efficiency, reducing unnecessary braking that consequently increases fuel consumption.
Previewed several years ago, InnoDrive is now said to be undergoing testing on two-lane roads near Weissach, Germany, according to a Car and Driver report. The system is programmed to consider the radius of an upcoming turn and the road grade, enabling the car to complete the corner at the specified g level.
Users can configure how much lateral acceleration to reach through corners, with 0.50g as the standard setting and 0.70g at the highest level.
The company claims InnoDrive can slash fuel consumption by 10 percent, while shortening drive time by two percent, though both figures are highly variable depending on the particular road.
Aside from reducing braking, the computer is also programmed to optimize throttle during acceleration to further reduce fuel consumption. An engine’s highest power efficiency, in terms of brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), is achieved within the peak torque range at or near wide-open throttle, typically between the low and middle rpm range. Porsche’s tech presumably keeps the throttle open and manages the gear choices to get back up to target speed using the least amount of fuel.
The company has not yet announced which production models, if any, will be outfitted with InnoDrive.
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