Motoring

Luxury sportscar launch: Porsche presents its latest Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show 2017

We take a look at what luxury car makers Porsche have up their sleeves for the Geneva Motor Show.

Mar 09, 2017 | By AFP Relaxnews

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is set to make a mark! Proving that the trickledown effect does indeed work when applied to automotive technology, the latest model in the German sportscar company’s expanding executive fastback range is literally dripping in technology developed and perfected in the company’s hybrid hypercar — the 918 Spyder. Debuting this week at the Geneva Motor Show, the Panamera Turbo brings a shot of power to the stage.

After the successful début of the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, which uses a V6 engine together with an electric motor, Porsche is showing once again that hybrid technology has great performance potential. The new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid combines an electric motor (100 kW/136 hp) with a V8 engine (404 kW/550 hp). Like the multi-million-dollar Spyder, this car can run purely on electricity for distances of up to 50 km and when the electric motor and turbocharged V8 are working in concert, it offers a remarkable fuel economy of 2.9 l/100 km.

So far, so sensible. But Porsche thankfully has decided to carry over the hypercar elements as well as the hybrid elements of the Spyder to this particular Panamera. And this results in a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds, a top speed of 310km/h and a remarkable maximum output of 680hp. Porsche promises that throttle response will be instantaneous and that there will be no turbo-lag as the electric engine plugs gaps in the torque band while the turbines are spooling up.

Throw all-around air suspension into the mix for ultimate comfort and agility plus the option of a longer wheelbase model for those that want even more rear leg room and relaxation, and the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is potentially in a class of its own.

Even its price tag, €185,736 for the standard wheelbase model and €199,183 for the Executive (long wheelbase) version is reasonable, considering that it’s still less than owning both a luxury sedan and an out-and-out sportscar.


 
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