First Drive Review
As we exited a gas station in Capetown, South Africa, we left behind four confused and disappointed service attendants. When we had pulled in, one of the guys exclaimed, “Wow, it’s a Porsche!” Immediately, we were surrounded by three of his co-workers, all jockeying to help gas up the car. (Apparently Porsches don’t come through here very often.) What we didn’t tell them was that this Panamera is the upcoming S hybrid model and that we had pressed the “E-POWER” button on the center console when we stopped. So instead of pulling away trailing some ripping, Le Mans–racer exhaust note, we slipped away silently under electric power.
It might be quiet, but the Panamera S hybrid, which goes on sale in the United States this fall, posts ostentatious statistics: It will accelerate tranquilly and with zero emissions up to 43 mph, and at $95,975, it will cost $5200 more than the V-8–powered Panamera S. But at roughly 5.5 seconds to 60 mph, it’s nearly as fast as the V-8 car, and with an estimated EPA combined fuel-economy rating of 25 mpg, it will be stingier at the pump than the V-6–powered Panamera.
The propulsion system is nearly identical to those of Porsche’s Cayenne S hybrid and Volkswagen’s Touareg hybrid. An Audi-developed direct-injected, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 with 333 horsepower gets assisted by a 46-hp electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission. The 3.3- inch-thick motor is powered by a 240-cell nickel-metal hydride battery that has a capacity of 1.7 kWh and weighs 154 pounds. Since the battery pack is built into the trunk’s floor, you can kiss your spare tire goodbye, though the pack will be replaced by a more compact lithium-ion battery in due course.
At speeds up to 110 mph, lifting off the throttle shuts down the supercharged V-6 to halt fuel consumption during coasting. With the supercharged V-6 up and running, this car tops out at 168 mph on the standard 18-inch tires, or at 149 mph with the optional, low-rolling-resistance Michelin 19-inchers. This, then, is no Prius.
We reckon that the estimated 5.5-second run to 60 mph qualifies as Porsche-level quickness. The Panamera S hybrid is also rear-drive only. Ditching the all-wheel-drive system saves weight and improves fuel economy. It also shifts the front-to-rear weight distribution to 47/53 percent and allows you to slide the tail out at corner exits.
The Panamera S hybrid’s gearbox upshifts to third earlier than it does in the heavier Cayenne S hybrid in order to save fuel. Overdrive seventh and eighth gears keep the revs below 2000 rpm at highway speeds. Even then, the hybrid Panamera never feels underpowered, thanks to the 428 pound-feet of maximum torque available.
The Panamera S hybrid is Porsche’s most efficient vehicle, achieving 35 mpg on the European drive cycle. We estimate the EPA will rate it at 23 mpg city and 28 highway, commendable for a 4400-pound sedan.
After three hours of driving in and around Capetown, the infotainment screen indicated that the V-6 had been resting for 88 minutes of our drive, or almost half the time. We drove a total of 1100 miles at an average speed of 53 mph and recorded 27 mpg.
This Panamera S hybrid might not post the big economy numbers of the Fisker Karma, and it certainly isn’t going to win any beauty contest against it. But the Porsche is a highly impressive, desirable sports sedan.
