What's the news?
Porsche is taking a Panamera E-Hybrid to Geneva - but before you think you've seen this all before, the existing green GT is the 4 E-Hybrid. The Swiss-bound monster is the new Turbo S E-Hybrid and it's the fastest accelerating Panamera yet made.
The Turbo S E-Hybrid uses the same 136hp/400Nm e-motor as the 4 E-Hybrid, but what's changed is the petrol engine up front. Gone is the 4's 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6, rated at 462hp/700Nm, and in comes the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 of the 'regular' Panamera Turbo, packing solid data of 550hp/770Nm. Driving all four wheels (Porsche Traction Management, or PTM) through an eight-speed PDK gearbox, the Turbo S E-Hybrid's colossal peak outputs of 680hp and 850Nm result in scorching performance: 0-100km/h takes a mere 3.4 seconds and the top speed is 310km/h.
The E-Performance boost strategy of the Turbo S E-Hybrid is lifted straight from the 918 Spyder hypercar, but of course it's a plug-in hybrid electric car so it also has some incredible eco-stats. The Panamera can do 50km on electric power alone and its overall economy figures are 2.9 litres/100km (97.4mpg) and 66g/km, with 16.2kWh/100km for the EV part of its drivetrain. That compares well to the 2.5 litres/100km (113mpg) and 56g/km figures of the 4 E-Hybrid. Like the existing Panamera hybrid, the newcomer takes between 2.5 and six hours to recharge.
Furthermore, the Turbo S E-Hybrid comes with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), three-chamber air suspension, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) and 21-inch 911 Turbo Design alloy wheels, all designed to keep this magnificent beast on the straight and narrow.
Anything else?
The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid debuts at Geneva in March and if you don't like the regular bodywork, you can opt to have this leviathan in long-wheelbase format, with the rear passenger compartment extended by 150mm. Irish prices for either Panamera PHEV are yet to be confirmed, but expect it to cost considerably more than the €117,411 of the 4 E-Hybrid.