The Panamera Sport Turismo isn't exactly a traditional Porsche, with a body style sitting somewhere between wagon and coupe. It seems fitting, then, that the new range-topping model isn't a GT3 or conventional Turbo. Instead, it's the Turbo S E-Hybrid, which uses an electric motor and gasoline engine for big performance.
Like the regular Panamera sedan, the Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid is a seriously powerful four-door. The twin-turbo V8 makes 550 hp (410 kW) of power on its own, while the electric motor is good for another 136 hp (101 kW), for a total output of 680 hp (507 KW) and 626 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque. That, in basic terms, is a lot.
The electric motor is hooked up to a liquid-cooled 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery., which takes 12 hours to charge on a regular 120V, 10A connection using the standard 3.5-kW charger, but an optional on-board 7.2-kW charger hooked up to a 240V, 40A plug drops that to less than three hours. Owners are able to remotely start or stop charging using the Porsche Connect app, which can also be used to activate climate control before you get into the car.
With the electric and gasoline power sources working in tandem, the car will hit 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds, and demolish the quarter mile in a staggering 11.6 seconds. Top speed is pegged at 192 mph (309 km/h). With all-wheel drive and an eight-speed double-clutch transmission it should be a perfectly comfortable way to cross continents in any weather, especially if you're in a hurry.
Although it's lightning quick, the Turbo S E-Hybrid is eminently practical as well. With a tall roofline and low boot loading height, there's room for four people and all their gear. The two outer rear seats are individual buckets, but there's also a usable central rear seat for those situations where you have one more person to carry. A four-seat option with fully adjustable rear buckets is also available.
As the range-topping Panamera model, almost everything Porsche offers is standard on the Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid. Carbon ceramic brakes, an adaptive chassis, adaptive power steering and torque vectoring are all included, along with three-chamber air suspension and 21-inch wheels from the 911 Turbo.
Aside from the Turbo wheels, there isn't much to distinguish the hybrid from other Panamera Sport Turismo models. Given it's such a handsome car, that isn't a bad thing. It's similar inside, where the touch-sensitive center console and widescreen infotainment display carry over.
The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid will be arriving in dealers in the US spring next year. Pricing will start at US$188,400 when the car shows up.
Source: Porsche
