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There's one type of car that consistently makes us smile here at CompleteCar.ie, and that's the fast estate. Little is more appealing in a vehicle than the ability to carry four adults and a full complement of luggage across a continent at supercar pace, and the Germans have long been masters of the genre. Enter the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo.
As the name suggests (thankfully they haven't put all that on the boot), it features a plug-in hybrid powertrain that utilises the mighty 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 from the regular Turbo, aided by a 136hp electric motor. In total, that equates to potential system outputs of 680hp and 850Nm of torque, the latter available from just 1,400rpm. Yikes.
Performance is predictably astounding. The top speed is 310km/h, while 100km/h from standstill takes 3.4 seconds, a 911 GT3-worrying figure. An all-wheel drive transmission with torque vectoring on the rear axle is standard, as is the eight-speed automatic gearbox seen on the rest of the Panamera range.
Quoted economy figures are impressive, too. Fuel consumption in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is said to be 97.4mpg (3.0 litres/100km), with a 49km battery-only range at speeds up to 140km/h. However, as with all hybrids, it's important to take those figures with a pinch of salt.
There are some drawbacks, namely the hybrid powertrain's extra weight and ensuing encroachment into rear luggage space. The placement of the heavy batteries behind the rear axle line will not aid the Panamera's balance, while the whole package is set to cost around €35,000 more than the regular Turbo.
A huge list of standard kit helps to offset that premium, with ceramic brakes, 21-inch wheels and air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) all fitted. Prices start at €188,592 in its homeland, though there's no word on Irish pricing or availability as yet.