Because buyers of expensive luxury grand touring cars demanded it, Porsche has announced a hybrid version of its forthcoming Panamera four-door sedan. OK, perhaps it wasn’t clamoring from the landed gentry that did it—more likely Porsche wants to pull its lineup more in line with tightening efficiency and emissions requirements in the U.S. and abroad—but a second hybrid Porsche has nevertheless been confirmed.
The hybrid Panamera will utilize the same technology found in the Cayenne hybrid SUV, which will hit the roads in 2009, around the same time as the conventionally powered Panamera.
Porsche has not announced timing for the Panamera hybrid, only saying that it “will be offered at a later date.” We might add that hybrids make nice introductions for the second model year of a new vehicle.
The Panamera’s hybrid system will be laid out with the engine up front (as with all Panameras) and the batteries under the trunk floor. If the system remains unchanged from the Cayenne hybrid, that means an additional clutch and 34-kW electric motor sandwiched between a six-speed automatic transmission and a 3.6-liter V-6.
As a full hybrid, the Panamera will have the ability to run off of the gas-fired motor, the electric motor, or both. Power figures are unknown for now.
The Panamera hybrid may also share several other efficiency-oriented features from the Cayenne hybrid. These include a move to an electrohydraulic steering system—we can only hope Porsche can tune it as perfectly as its conventional setups—and switching the vacuum pump for the brakes, the transmission’s oil pump, and the air conditioning over to electric power.
Fuel savings information is unavailable, but the Cayenne hybrid is claimed to have 30 percent better fuel economy, with the target for the big ute being 24 to 26 combined mpg. As the Panamera will likely weigh much less then the Cayenne, 30 mpg combined could be within reach.
The regular Panamera will almost certainly be powered by a Porsche-built V-8, but we also wouldn’t rule out a non-hybrid application of the VW-sourced V-6 or even possibly the V-10 from the departed Carrera GT supercar.
Prices for the entire Panamera range are expected to range from $75,000 to well over $100,000, with the hybrid falling somewhere near the top.
Porsche has not announced timing for the Panamera hybrid, only saying that it “will be offered at a later date.” We might add that hybrids make nice introductions for the second model year of a new vehicle.
The Panamera’s hybrid system will be laid out with the engine up front (as with all Panameras) and the batteries under the trunk floor. If the system remains unchanged from the Cayenne hybrid, that means an additional clutch and 34-kW electric motor sandwiched between a six-speed automatic transmission and a 3.6-liter V-6.
As a full hybrid, the Panamera will have the ability to run off of the gas-fired motor, the electric motor, or both. Power figures are unknown for now.
The Panamera hybrid may also share several other efficiency-oriented features from the Cayenne hybrid. These include a move to an electrohydraulic steering system—we can only hope Porsche can tune it as perfectly as its conventional setups—and switching the vacuum pump for the brakes, the transmission’s oil pump, and the air conditioning over to electric power.
Fuel savings information is unavailable, but the Cayenne hybrid is claimed to have 30 percent better fuel economy, with the target for the big ute being 24 to 26 combined mpg. As the Panamera will likely weigh much less then the Cayenne, 30 mpg combined could be within reach.
The regular Panamera will almost certainly be powered by a Porsche-built V-8, but we also wouldn’t rule out a non-hybrid application of the VW-sourced V-6 or even possibly the V-10 from the departed Carrera GT supercar.
Prices for the entire Panamera range are expected to range from $75,000 to well over $100,000, with the hybrid falling somewhere near the top.
