James Taylor wrote:There’s yet another new Porsche Panamera in town, and this time it’s faster than ever.
Making its debut at the 2017 Geneva motor show, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid combines the twin-turbo 4.0 V8 petrol engine from the Panam Turbo with an electric motor and battery pack with plug-in charging capability.
It’s the second plug-in hybrid Panamera in the range, joining the V6-engined Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.
Adding a beefy electric motor to the Panamera Turbo makes this quite a quick car, I imagine?
The regular Panamera Turbo, relying on its 542bhp V8 alone, can get from 0-62mph in 3.6sec. In the Turbo S E-Hybrid, both its power sources churn out 671bhp and can muster 627lb ft of torque from just above idle.
Using the launch control function, Porsche claims 0-62mph in 3.4sec, and a top speed of 192mph. In a car that weighs more than 2.3 tonnes!
Any other benefits to carting around a motor and battery, apart from two tenths fewer to 62?
A range of up to 31 miles in full electric mode, and an NEDC fuel consumption rating of 97mpg (which factors in that EV range) – compared with 30.1mpg in the regular Panam Turbo.
It’ll take around six hours to fully charge from a 230V connection, or a little under two and a half hours if the optional fast-charger pack is fitted. Download the appropriate smartphone app and you can programme the charge timing remotely.
Give me some tech specs
The Panamera Turbo S PHEV is four-wheel-drive, with an electric clutch actuator to couple and de-couple engine and motor. An eight-speed PDK double-clutch transmission takes care of the gears.
The battery is a 14.1kWh lithium-ion with liquid cooling.
Air suspension with adaptive dampers is standard, as are ceramic brakes and giant 21in alloy wheels with the same design as the 911 Turbo.
When does the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid go on sale, and how much does it cost?
Depending on how deep their pockets and how tall their friends and family are, buyers can choose from two wheelbases. The LWB version adds an extra 150mm of toe waggling room for rear passengers.
Prices in the UK start from £137,140 for the standard wheelbase and £146,545 for the stretched model.
Orders are open now, with deliveries from July 2017.
