The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is a serious contender in the sports hybrid wagon category.
Turbo S means that it’s fast but not as focused as a GT or GTS. E-Hybrid means that it’s a plug-in hybrid. This means it has a conventional gas-powered engine that works in tandem with an electric motor. Coupled with an 8-speed gearbox, the Panamera is a master at delivering punchy performance while also allowing for engine-off electric running which keeps consumption and emission levels low.
Built on many of the foundations of its sister car, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, the Sport Turismo part of the name means that it’s an estate that offers the practicality of fitting in a family while still allowing for a reasonably sized trunk. All of this is packaged in a high performance, elegantly styled Panamera.
Punchy Performance
This Panamera boasts a 550bhp 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine. If this isn’t enough, it’s paired with a 136bhp electric motor that’s powered by a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery. This gives the Panamera an additional 30-mile range while reaching speeds of up to 87 mph. The complete power output is 680bhp and 626 pound-feet. Interestingly, it’s the second one of these numbers that are the most surprising.
Most torque curves, which show the amount of torque an engine produces when are in fact, curved. This means that they have fluctuating torque figures at different intervals. The Panamera’s torque curve is in a straight line which means that it produces a constant predictable level of torque. The Turismo is no doubt paving the way for the future of Porsche electronic sports cars.
Lots Of Modes
The Panamera has many exciting modes to choose from. It automatically starts in E-Power mode in which it uses all power from the battery before switching to the V8.
The Hybrid mode is the one that you’ll probably end up using the most. It’s an auto mode in which the Panamera’s ECU decides how best to allocate power between the petrol and the electric engine to optimize the economy.
Then there are the 2 Sport modes: Sport and Sport Plus. The Sport mode makes sure the engine is always kept on while the Sport Plus mode adds some extra grunt. When this knob on the steering wheel is triggered, the engine roars to 5000 RPM, and the 4 Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s race the Panamera forward with an incredibly quick launch. The Panamera catapults to 60 mph in an astonishing 2.9 seconds while a quarter-mile flies past in 11.1 seconds.
This car is massively quick.
Capable Around The Corners
With all this speed, how does the Panamera around corners? To put it simply, the Turismo offers an immense amount of grip.
The 325-section tire’s on the rear axle along with the four-wheel-drive system prevent any slide from occurring. The Porsche Panamera links 48-volt front and rear active anti-roll bars with adaptive air springs to prevent any roll and create a flat and controllable ride. The steering is precise which allows the estate to carve around corners with help from its torque-vectoring system.
Feature-Filled
The Panamera is packed with great features. The Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), as well as the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus), put the Panamera at the top of its game when it comes to light technology. Various assistance systems such as Lane Change Assist, Lane Keep Assist, and Park Assist make it a joy to drive in traffic.
Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment allows your back seat companions to enjoy a cinematic experience while also making use of the Four-zone automatic climate control.
One of the most useful features has to be the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system which is the central control unit audio, navigation, and communication.
Practically Speaking
The Porsche Panamera series has been making waves in recent years and this Turismo hybrid is no different.
Apart from the Panamera’s punchy performance and its amazing features, this Porsche is big. At over 2 meters wide including the mirrors, the Panamera allows for plenty of space inside the cabin. It gives the passengers a very generous amount of room while still allowing for a large-sized trunk.
With every possible feature you may need at your fingertips, the Panamera is colossal when it comes to space and luxury, yet extremely fast at the same time. What more could you want?
Photo credit: Business Insider