Summary
+ Plug-in Hybrid is the technology of the future and it’s available today
+ Engine(s)
– No AWD
Check out the picture gallery and more videos below.
We finally had the opportunity to test drive a car we’ve been waiting for a long time. Electric cars and hybrids have been on the market for several years now, but none of them have been truly functional on a day-to-day basis. Electric cars are practically useless in sparsely populated areas with no electric plugs available and a long charging time. On the other hand the hybrids hybrids with a couple of kilometers battery power available is inadequate, and does not change the real-world fuel consumption of petrol engines. Therefore, a plug-in hybrid from a sports car manufacturer sounded very appealing to us.
Engines and performance
Porsche Panamera S Hybrid E has the same supercharged 3.0 -liter 333hp petrol engine as the Audi S4/S5, combined with a 95 hp electric motor. The combination gives a mighty 416 hp and 580 Nm of torque, which launches the 2000 kg (4,619 lbs) body weight forward at an impressive pace. The power seems to be adequate for any situation as the strong petrol engine is powerful by itself, but the low end torque of the electric motor leaves the driver with the impression of a more powerful engine than the specs would promise. Rear tires are spinning effortlessly and constantly upon request. The 8-speed automatic transmission is an ideal companion to the powerful engine and it functions very quickly and discreetly. Compared to a Panamera S the hybrid technology weighs almost 300 kg (660 lbs) more and this extra weight can be felt in tight corners. However, Porsche’s engineers have done an excellent job in hiding the weight in normal driving. It’s chassis is so good from the start that even with the extra weight, it is still at the top of it’s class and the steering feels precise and responsive.
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