Will the Panamera S Hybrid be the most fuel efficient Porsche ever?
Porsche released images and information on the Panamera S Hybrid. The German automaker clams it will be the most fuel-efficient Porsche of all time.
Porsche just revealed the Panamera S Hybrid, the company's second production hybrid. The new model, which will be shown at the 2011 Geneva auto show, promises to be elegant, sporty, but not hold back on power.
According to the specs Porsche released, the Panamera S Hybrid produces 380 horsepower with fuel consumption of only 6.8 L/100 km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
The Panamera S Hybrid uses same gasoline engine/electric motor combination as in the Cayenne S Hybrid. A 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine delivering 333 horsepower is supported by a 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 167 mph. Its range in purely electric mode is about one mile, with electric-only acceleration possible up to just over 50 mph, Porsche said in a release.
Adding to the vehicle's fuel efficiency is a parallel full-hybrid system, which shuts off the gasoline engine when the vehicle is in "sailing" or coasting mode. When the driver lifts off the accelerator at normal highway cruising speeds the gas engine disengages from the drive train by a decoupling clutch. "This eliminates the combustion engine's drag forces and braking effect in the interest of lower resistance, fuel consumption and emissions," Porsche said.
The gas engine is seamlessly re-engaged when the driver presses the accelerator, thanks to the Hybrid Manager. This technology also helps the Panamera S Hybrid accelerate dynamically in gears at higher speeds much like a conventional Panamera.
Engineers at Porsche have also developed optional, low-rolling-resistance tires developed especially for the Panamera, which gives the S Hybrid an edge on performance and fuel efficiency.
The Panamera S Hybrid will be available this fall and will retail for $95,000.
