2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Release Date, Specs, Price News: Range-Topping Panamera Delivers 680 Horsepower

By Georgia Gana, Christian Post Contributor Saturday, February 25, 2017

Porsche has added a plug-in hybrid to its luxury four-door sedan lineup. The 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid sits at the top of the range and is described as stronger and more powerful than the previous flagship model.

The luxury sedan's hybrid powertrain features the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine used by the Panamera Turbo, which delivers 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque. It is combined with a 136-horsepower electric motor for a total power output of 680 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque. This allows the plug-in hybrid to go from 0 to 62 miles per hour (mph) in 3.4 seconds and attain a top speed of 192 mph.

The system is mated to an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and the sedan comes standard as an all-wheel drive.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Subscribe

The 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid's electric motor is powered by a 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery, which translates to an all-electric driving range of 31 miles.

Using the standard 3.6-kW charger with a 10 A plug via a 230-volt connection allows the battery to be fully charged in about six hours. Meanwhile, the optional 7.2-kW on-board charger and a 230-volt connection with a 32 A socket will hasten the charging process to just 2.4 hours.

Charging can begin via the timer in the Porsche Communication Management system but owners can also start the process remotely by using the Porsche Connect app, which is compatible with smartphones and the Apple Watch.

During drives, the Panamera plug-in hybrid will automatically begin with the electric mode, "E-Power." However, when a specific pressure point is passed in the accelerator pedal or when the battery is running low, "Hybrid Auto" mode is activated and the V8 engine will be used.

Although the 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is an eco-friendly vehicle, that doesn't mean that it no longer delivers sports car-like performance. The luxury sedan comes standard with a three-chamber air suspension, 21-inch alloy wheels, auxiliary air-conditioning, adaptive aerodynamics, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport with Torque Vectoring Plus, Power Steering Plus and Porsche Active Suspension Management.

The plug-in hybrid will be available in two versions: the standard model, with a starting price of $184,400, and the Executive variant with an extended wheelbase for $194,800. There will also be an additional $1,050 charge for delivery, processing and handling.

The 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, scheduled from March 9 to 19. It will then arrive in Europe in July, to be followed by other markets in the second half of 2017.