Praise is quickly piling up for the Panamera, with the consensus forming that pegs it as one of the most consummate four-door sports GTs ever built. Being a Porsche, even the least intimidating Diesel and E-Hybrid variants are properly quick and agile in corners.
Quicker, more aggressive versions typically don either the GTS or Turbo distinctions, but now it seems that the next Panamera E-Hybrid will be able to match or even exceed the current range-topper for out-and-out performance too, according to a report from Autocar UK.
Borrowing many of the same technologies Porsche developed for the 918 Spyder, one of the quickest production cars around the Nurburgring, this supposed high output hybrid Panamera will be able to put down “at least” 373kW combined output from its petrol and electric motor.
The current crown of the Panamera range, the Turbo, produces 404kW from its 4.0-litre V8 engine whereas the current (and only) E-Hybrid variant lays down 343kW of combined system output. Should Porsche, as suspected, be mulling an even faster version of a hybridised second-generation Panamera, the Zuffenhausen automaker certainly has options.
Essentially, the current E-Hybrid uses a detuned version of the 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 mill in the Panamera 4S. Should it be left at the 4S’s setting, that could be enough push it into the Turbo’s performance bracket. Though, a more interesting possibility is the Turbo’s 4.0-litre unit being augmented by an electric motor.
On the former, Autocar brought it up in one of their conversations with the Panamera’s sales and marketing director Stefan Utsch, to which he responded: “That would work.”
There are also swirling rumours (and an apparent confirmation) that Porsche will finally unveil the much awaited Panamera Sport Turismo, in near-production form, at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March. This faster hybrid version of the car could very well also be scheduled to have its debut next month alongside it.
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