2013 Porsche Panamera Plug-in Hybrid
The 2013 Porsche Panamera got its first facelift and it is an ultra-frugal plug-in hybrid model featuring a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engine and a long wheelbase variant.
The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid reduces fuel consumption from the outgoing hybrid model by more than half – from 7.1L/100km to 3.1L/100km combined, and for the first time it offers an electric-only driving range of 36km.
The previous nickel metal hybride battery units are replaced with new lithium-ion batteries that are now rated at 9.4kWh, more than five times the capacity of the older ones. They’ll charge via an industrial power socket, and full charging will take just two hours, while plugging the Panamera into a household power outlet will require four hours for a full recharge. You can check on the charging status of the vehicle via a smartphone app which can also be used to direct the driver back to where they parked the car as well as operate the air conditioning.
The Panamera S E-Hybrid is powered by the earlier mentioned V6 as well as an electric motor, but the electric motor now has double the power of the older version.
When on the combined cycle, the redesigned hybrid system produces 310kW over the previous model and can get from zero to 100km/h in about 5.5 seconds.
When running on the electric motor only, the Porsche can reach 135km/h, however the top speed when the petrol engine is engaged as well is 270km/h.
The parallel hybrid design allows for the petrol engine to shut off at higher speeds when coasting so that the vehicle can capture kinetic energy to then recharge the battery on the move.
The Panamera S E-Hybrid uses an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission, while the petrol-only Panamera S and 4S will continue with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The facelifted Porsche Panamera will be making its first public appearance at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.
