Thursday 17th February 2011

Porsche Panamera S Hybrid Here In June

Tax-friendly Porsche will please fleet managers, but probably not Porsche purists

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Presumably in part to give its most purist fans something to get hot and bothered about while they wait for the long-wheelbase Panamera, Porsche will put its new Panamera S hybrid on sale in June.

Joking aside, the 374bhp hybrid Panamera will sport the lowest CO2 output of any sporty large saloon (just 159g/km, for carbon footprint fact fans), besting the diesel offerings from the likes of the Jaguar XJ and BMW 7-series ranges.

The running gear is shared with the Cayenne hybrid and combines a 44bhp electric motor with a 330bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that you might recognise from such fast saloons as the Audi S4.

The hybrid can run electric-only up to 37mph, while flat-out performance is 0-62mph in 6.0secs and a top speed of 168mph.

At £86,146, the Panamera S hybrid pitches in between the Turbo and 4S models, but for your extras £3k over the 4S you do get air suspension and 19-inch wheels.

Crucially, of course, you also slip below the threshold of 160g/km that, for tax purposes, means businesses can write off more of the cost of the car. A Porsche as a fleet favourite? Who'd have thought it?

 

[jon-]

Next stop, 911 town.

At least it will sort out the balance issues...

[jon-]

red997 said:

having driven several variants of these cars, I really cant see what's not to like about them;
ok they may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but we're supposed to be petrol (or should that now read volt) heads fer christ sakes ! I'm certainly not a felt tip fairy - oo look at that styling cue; oo look how that line doesn't end properly.etc etc.
Porsche have managed to make this car handle sweetly when pushed, yet remain refined & quiet when it has to. Great internal ergonomics for me too; could operate everything pretty much straight away, without reading the manual. Couldn't say the same about a 320d I had as a loaner ! gave up with the 'simplified' iDrive ..

p.s. - despite the name, I don't have a red 997 (!)

Despite my earlier quip, I totally agree with this. Having had time with one, I really couldn't fault it for what is was. I'd really like one in the future, wouldn't pay 100k for one though...