Hybrid. I say the word with a bit of malevolence to it. I’ll be honest here and admit I’ve never been a fan of the concept. In my opinion, forced induction is the definitive way forward. Imagine the irony when Porsche called me up and unexpectedly offered me the keys to a Panamera S Hybrid for a day. I accepted the offer of course, but I certainly had my reservations. My immediate thoughts were that this Hybrid would likely be less fun to drive than the Panamera 4 that I’d tested a little while back. Under the bonnet lies at 3.0L supercharged V6 that produced 333PS and 440Nm. The permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor develops 46PS and 300Nm. When combined, a total of 380PS and 580Nm are transferred to the rear wheels via 8-speed PDK automatic gearbox. The Panamera S Hybrid is good for a zerotohundredrun in 5.7 seconds (Launch Control shaves off 0.2 seconds; LC on a hybrid you ask?). Sure, on paper it does seem faster than the Panamera 4 I’d tested, but I was still skeptical about Porsche’s decision to ditch the all-wheel drive system.
When I arrived at Porsche to pick up the Panamera, I was mildly surprised to see that the test car was pristine white. I was told that the car was only a week old, and had about 300-ish clicks on the odometer. Taking several steps back, I decided that the Panamera looks really good in white. This particular unit has also been spec’d with the optional 20-inch wheels and these help to really fill up the gaps in the wheel arches. It also has the Sports Chrono Package (that adds Sports Plus mode – allowing for sharper throttle response, and lowered ride height) albeit without the Sports steering wheel. The Panamera is not the best looking four-door Porsche around and hovers between elegant and boring, even with the larger wheels. Getting into the car, I pressed the button that erected the rear spoiler; while it impedes some of the view through the rear window, I knew that it would add a tinge of aggressiveness that would improve the exterior visuals.
Each time I step into a Panamera, my visual senses are overloaded by the arrays of buttons on the centre console. I know it might look confusing, but the buttons are all very easy to figure out. Ergonomically placed, it seems as though (and I would not be surprised!) Porsche’s engineers spent time to determine which button should go where. Cabin build quality is of exceptional high standards – soft touch plastics, leather and real brushed aluminum is used everywhere. The Panamera’s interior exudes pure class and über-luxury, something that puts many of its other German rivals to shame. This grand-tourer is a strict four-seater and allows all its occupants to travel in style – this is a definite plus in the Malaysian market.
Starting the engine up is a very… muted experience. There are no rumbles, growls, pops or spits. The engine simply shudders to life, so I slot into gear and drove away with little drama. Since there was traffic, I engaged the “E-POWER” button with the hopes of being as economical as I could manage (I have lead-foot syndrome, so this is really very hard for me). What I immediately realized was how difficult it was trying to keep the Panamera running on the motor in traffic. Brake to a complete standstill and the engine shudders off; you have to prod the accelerator ever so gently to ensure the car moves forward. The difficult part is finding the balance to keep it running on the electric motor because once you prod a wee bit too much, the revs bounce past 1,200rpm and the engine come back to life. In truth, I found this incredibly annoying and, considering I only had the car for a little over 24 hours, I decided to stop driving it like a hybrid and drove it like a Porsche instead. This is when things start to get very interesting.
Remember how I mentioned I struggled to hit 200km/h and beyond in the Panamera 4 on my favourite highway? Well, this was not a problem at all for the S Hybrid – it had oodles of grunt in the mid-range and propelling past legal speeds was (incredibly) effortless. The powerplant under the hood is not the most sonorous nor is it the most exciting, but it gets the job done damn well. With Sports Plus engaged, you get quicker throttle response and firmer ride, but the Panamera’s basic character is transformed altogether in a positive way. Earlier on, I wrote about how I was skeptical about Porsche maintaining the Panamera S Hybrid as a rear-wheel drive; I was proven foolish to doubt their decision. Handling was phenomenal and, paired together with massive, sticky rubbers, enabled me to carry much more speed into corners than I would usually dare. Remember my 370Z video? Well, I managed to hit ~190km/h on that strip of tarmac. Impressive? Definitely. In the Panamera S Hybrid, I managed (a frankly ridiculous) 219km/h. This is a car that is over half a ton heavier than the Zee, with ‘only’ 80 extra horses. As Russel Peters would have put it… the realization was simply Mind Blasting. Its massive steel brakes provide plenty of stopping power and, although the pedals required a bit of travel before the brakes bit, had very little fade despite my constant punishment. Ceramics are of course an option, but I honestly see no need for them – the steels really are that good.
As a regular luxe-barge slash grand tourer, the Panamera S Hybrid does the job pretty well. Its hybrid system is slightly flawed (especially at lower speeds), but is something that Porsche will undoubtedly fix in time. The air-suspension is fantastic, soaking up lumps on the road; engage Sports Plus and you’re gifted with the ability to corner like a maniac. Its occupants will always travel in style, and you can always boast about how environmentally friendly the car is because, hey, this is a hybrid car after all. Oh, did I mention how it is nearly as quick as the Panamera S? The Panamera S Hybrid will never claim huge economical savings, nor will it win any beauty contest, but I’ll be damned – it is an awesome bit of machinery and I have zero qualms about waking up to seeing it parked in my garage. Yes, I’ve never liked the idea of hybrids, but I’ll make an exception for this one.
Here’s a short video of driving the Panamera S Hybrid. In the first half, you’ll see the (already deployed) spoiler changing angles at different speeds.
To see all the pictures of the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, click here.
Porsche Panamera S Hybrid
• Zerotohundred: 5.7secs *Sports Chrono Package + PDK
• Top Speed: 280km/h (tested)
• Engine: 3.0L supercharged V6 + permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor
• Power: 380PS / 5,500 rpm
• Torque: 580Nm / 3,300 rpm
• Weight: 1,995kg (kerb weight)
• Fuel Economy: N/A
• Wheels: 9.5 x 20” (front), 11.0 x 20” (rear) *911 Turbo II spec’d as seen in pics
• Tyres: 255/40 R20 (front), 295/35 R20 (rear)
• Price: N/A
To view older comments on the previous platform, click here.
