Porsche has released details detailing a revamp of the Panamera range including a new plug-in hybrid model. The Panamera S E-Hybrid, as it will be designated, will have maximum power of 416hp - of which 95hp will come solely from the electric drive system. New hybrid batteries have more than five times the energy capacity of the previous generation's and can now be charged by directly plugging into a public charging station - or even a standard household electrical socket.
Exterior
The Panamera has also received a cosmetic makeover. The larger air intakes at the front give a slightly sportier appearance, as do the (now standard) bi-xenon headlamps. As an optional extra these can be upgraded to LED headlights. The rear window gets a more swept-back appearance too, which helps the silhouette, while the new (now automatic) boot lid is the more noticeable feature at the back.
Interior
Not a great deal has changed on the inside from an architecture standpoint, but buyers will get more features as standard including a multi-function steering wheel. Drivers can also specify an adaptive cruise control system that can apply the brakes to avoid a potential accident, while a camera-based system that can read road signs as well as giving a lane departure warning is available.
Owners of the Panamera S E-Hybrid will also be able to remotely alter the car's climate control via a smartphone app from Porsche. From this it will also be possible to check the car's status such as remaining range on electric drive and even the car's location should you forget where you left your Porsche Panamera...
Mechanicals
In addition to now having a far better battery system the Panamera S E-Hybrid can also travel up to 36 kilometres on pure electric power and reach speeds of up to 135km/h without any noise or emissions. Porsche also quotes CO2 emissions of just 71g/km and fuel consumption of 3.1 litres/100km.
Helping the E-Hybrid reach those impressive figures is Porsche's eight-speed automatic Tiptronic S gearbox. This transmission helps to increase efficiency by extending the start-stop function, deactivating the engine earlier when coasting to a stop.
The Panamera S and Panamera 4S models will see their 4.8-litre V8 engines phased out and replaced with a new 3.0-litre biturbo V6 that will actually produce 20hp more than the V8, generate 20Nm more torque yet will see fuel consumption drop by 18%. Engineers say that the setup of the turbocharging will result in 520Nm of torque being made more widely available across the rev range.
Anything else?
Early 2014 will see the introduction of a new 300hp diesel engine, which will replace the existing unit and is claimed to offer greater driving fun. Also coming on stream, although not until 2014 again, will be an extended wheelbase version of the Panamera S and Turbo S, both of which will be called the Executive. This will see the wheelbase grow by 15cm with the beneficiaries being the rear passengers.