Porsche Panamera earns V6 plug-in hybrid variants
New 4 Hybrid and 4S Hybrid promise more power, greater range and quicker charging than ever before
Never let it be said that Porsche doesn’t give the customer a plentiful choice - even when it comes to the five-door cars. For those fully committed to electric, there’s a freshly updated Taycan, while customers still keen to get their kicks the old-fashioned way get a V8 in the Turbo Panamera plug-in. And now somewhere in the middle will sit a new pair of V6 hybrids, the Panamera 4 and Panamera 4S.
Porsche says there is ‘particularly strong interest in efficient and dynamic e-hybrid powertrains in many markets’. PHey types might still gravitate towards the 4.0-litre Panameras, but the reason for launching the plug-in 2.9s separately is that they will probably be the biggest sellers. In the 4, the engine is rated at 304hp and the electric motor 190hp/332lb ft for, a grand total of 470hp and 479lb ft. Because PHEV. The S keeps the same electric motor (both it and the 25.9kWh battery are all new), adding performance via a burlier tune of the turbo V6 - 353hp. Its overall system outputs are 544hp and 553lb ft, sufficient for 3.7 seconds to 62mph and 180mph. Which isn’t far off Turbo performance. The 4 is rated at 4.1 seconds and 174mph, which isn’t exactly slow either.
Far more important than all that, however, is the electric stuff. Porsche says up to 59 miles of all-electric running is possible in the 4 according to the EAER city test (up to 57 for the 4S); recuperation is now up to 88kW, an 11kW onboard AC charger means the battery can be recharged in two hours 39 minutes, and reduction of inertia in the motor aims to improve throttle response.
Additionally, the driving modes we’re becoming used to with electrified Porsches are there to make these Panamera plug-ins as efficient as they can be: E-Hold keeps the charge in the battery, E-Charge uses the engine to replenish it once out of town, Hybrid Auto can work with the nav to hold charge for zero emissions urban running and E-Power is the purely electric setting. In Sport and Sport Plus modes, where previously a target state of charge for the battery was 30 per cent (Sport mode) and 80 per cent (Sport Plus), it’s now 20 and 30 per cent respectively; Porsche says this ‘increases efficiency without sacrificing performance’, presumably thanks to the battery’s extra capacity and the additional recuperation now possible.
Like the rest of the new Panamera range, the new pairing is equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management and air springs as standard, with Active Ride tech available as an option. So in addition to the two-valve damper, there’s a hydraulic pump to further assist compression and rebound that’s supplied by the 400-volt electrical system. So expect pretty flawless ride quality: Porsche says the dampers can adjust what they’re doing 13 times a second. Speaking of options, 4 buyers will also be able to get rear-wheel steering, Remote ParkAssist and the new passenger display. The 4S can be had with ceramic brakes, which might further improve the ride with the fancy suspension, though they’re only offered with the larger 21-inch wheels because the front discs are 440mm. Standard are 20s and 10-piston calipers iron discs, with red calipers, though the trademark Porsche E-Hybrid Acid Green remains available.
Both 4 and 4S are on sale in the UK now, priced at £90,300 and £102,100 respectively. For reference, a 353hp Panamera 4 (without electrical assistance) is £82,500, with the 680hp Turbo E-Hybrid topping the current range at £141,400. And if all that perhaps sounds a bit much for a plug-in Panamera but you like the idea, check this out: a 670hp Turbo E-Hybrid that’s barely stopped moving since 2019, and with £100,000 off its as-new price…
I know it will be a heavy car, and in the scheme of things thats not a huge power output in isolation these days, but it will still have 150 ish bhp per ton ?
Which is perfectly adequate, it just wont be ridiculously fast, still be quicker than the bulk of cars out there on the roads, you make it sound like it would be like those old mopeds you could pedal if you ran out of petrol !
I know it will be a heavy car, and in the scheme of things thats not a huge power output in isolation these days, but it will still have 150 ish bhp per ton ?
Which is perfectly adequate, it just wont be ridiculously fast, still be quicker than the bulk of cars out there on the roads, you make it sound like it would be like those old mopeds you could pedal if you ran out of petrol !
That’s before adding any paint, nicer wheels etc or that funny £400+ clock thing they glue to the dashboard ‘for residuals’. I’m not sure I’m one of Porsches target customers.
These plug in hybrids are objectively very silly products designed to circumvent emissions rules.
I actually would get a V6 diesel plugin if there were any.
These plug in hybrids are objectively very silly products designed to circumvent emissions rules.
These plug in hybrids are objectively very silly products designed to circumvent emissions rules.
No doubt there will be plenty. And a huge number who don't, because they only have it for the tax benefit and lug around a load of redundant weight. PHEVs are a cynical product designed to avoid manufacturer fines regarding fleet CO2. If you really wanted to achieve the same thing properly, you'd better off with a traditional hybrid a la Toyota/Lexus.
I know it will be a heavy car, and in the scheme of things thats not a huge power output in isolation these days, but it will still have 150 ish bhp per ton ?
Which is perfectly adequate, it just wont be ridiculously fast, still be quicker than the bulk of cars out there on the roads, you make it sound like it would be like those old mopeds you could pedal if you ran out of petrol !
59 miles covers most driving I do day to day, can see the point, would just concern me as they age, if the Hybrid side has issues and is expensive to fix will end up as a 300 bhp Panamera permanently.
No doubt there will be plenty. And a huge number who don't, because they only have it for the tax benefit and lug around a load of redundant weight. PHEVs are a cynical product designed to avoid manufacturer fines regarding fleet CO2. If you really wanted to achieve the same thing properly, you'd better off with a traditional hybrid a la Toyota/Lexus.
Assuming it did a genuine 40 miles in EV mode that is more than enough for most people’s daily driving.
Then do long trips with no range anxiety.
No doubt there will be plenty. And a huge number who don't, because they only have it for the tax benefit and lug around a load of redundant weight. PHEVs are a cynical product designed to avoid manufacturer fines regarding fleet CO2. If you really wanted to achieve the same thing properly, you'd better off with a traditional hybrid a la Toyota/Lexus.
It works for him.
These plug in hybrids are objectively very silly products designed to circumvent emissions rules.
Best of all worlds. really, certainly a compromise but a good one.
I find myself liking Panamera's more, but would hanker after a V8 in all honesty. That's not the way the market is going so a sub 4 sec 0-60 v6 hybrid 4S would be a cracking car to live with i suspect.
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