- Porsche releases the first official images of its new 2012 Panamera S Hybrid.
- The hybrid sports car will debut at the upcoming Geneva auto show.
- The "most fuel-efficient Porsche of all time" goes on sale in the U.S. later this year, priced from $95,975.
GENEVA — Porsche has released the first official images and details on its new Panamera S Hybrid, which makes its public debut in early March at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. The "most fuel-efficient Porsche of all time" goes on sale in the U.S. later this year, priced from $95,975, including shipping.
The Panamera S Hybrid will be the German automaker's second gasoline-electric production model, after the Cayenne S Hybrid. Porsche says the Panamera S Hybrid returns an average 33 mpg on the European driving cycle — 35 mpg with optional low-rolling-resistance tires. Official EPA fuel-economy numbers won't be available until later in the year.
The Panamera S Hybrid uses the same driveline as the Cayenne S Hybrid — a 333-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine coupled with a 47-hp electric motor, mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission. In the Panamera S Hybrid, the powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 167 mph.
The new model features a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack at a time when most competitors are making the shift to lithium-based batteries.
Standard equipment on the Panamera S Hybrid includes adaptive air suspension, Servotronic variable-assist power steering and Porsche Communication Management with navigation.
The Panamera S Hybrid goes on sale in June in Germany. In its home market, the car will be priced from $143,000, including taxes.
Inside Line says: Next move is yours, Ferrari. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
proxima says:
09:31 AM, 02/22/2011
Excellent. These are incremental steps. The technology will be refined and the next thing you know is that these cars will be getting 50+mpg plus great performance.
gupdoggydog says:
05:38 PM, 02/17/2011
@blueguydotcom -
I own a G37X, I get 23 mpg avg combined, my car weighs 3800 lbs, is 8 inches shorter but seats 5. It's prob in the mid .80s skidpad and yeah it's not as luxurious inside.
But my point is: It costs $55K LESS, has AWD and it's not a hybrid.
Porsche can do better for $95K, but I would be happy to trade straight up......
93aero says:
03:31 PM, 02/16/2011
Ferrari? What would they throw a hybrid drive-train on? That new car that looks like a shoe? ... Besides, this car already has direct competition with the S class hybrid.
blueguydotcom says:
01:15 PM, 02/16/2011
@gupdoggydog - neither the G37 nor the 335 are full size sedans, they don't weigh 4k, they don't pull nearly a G on the skipdpad, they're not even close to luxurious inside. Additionally neither gets 25 MPG combined according to the EPA (as a former owner of the e9x cars it's possible but really tough with the 335i).
Take a look at epa numbers:
G37 sedan 7AT - 22 combined (G37x = 20)
335i 6AT - 22 combined (335i xDrive = 21)
gupdoggydog says:
10:56 AM, 02/16/2011
If the EPA tests are 30mpg+ then I believe it's an acheivement. Otherwise not so much.
The Infiniti G37, BMW 335 all can get about 25 mpg when driven with ecomony in mind. Those cars, among others, have similar specs/performance numbers and they can be had with AWD.
And $95K for nikel batteries?
I'll take a wait and see approach..not a bad start i guess.
blueguydotcom says:
08:54 AM, 02/16/2011
I imagine with EPA tests it will be closer to 25 combined MPG. Still pretty good for such a monster vehicle.
a1c_scg says:
08:44 AM, 02/16/2011
Why is the next move Ferrari's?? How does this car have anything to do w/ Ferrari?? I wasn't aware Maranello made a sedan. Oh, wait. They don't.
This is a no-brainer move. The people this car is marketed to will eat this thing up. So they're making profit, while simultaneously raising their fleet average MPGs for CAFE. Great move. Allows them to keep doing what they do best- make uncompromising sportscars for enthusiasts.
On a side note, this car looks surprising good in these photos, and indeed, better in person, imo.