Porsche recently debuted its second generation Gran Turismo at the Auto Shanghai show in China. The centrepiece of its exhibit was the new Panamera S E-Hybrid, the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid.
Two Executive versions also debuted – the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo with an extended wheelbase for left-hand-drive markets. The company also launched an all-new three-litre V6 biturbo engine with the new Panamera S and 4S. The Panamera range now encompasses ten individual models.
Speaking on the occasion, Matthias Müller, President and CEO of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, said that the Porsche Panamera and China had a special relationship, with the first Panamera making its world debut four years ago at Shanghai. The company believed that the Gran Turismo would be the perfect model for this market, and China since then has become the second largest Porsche market globally, with one of three Panameras delivered here in 2012.
The Panamera S E-Hybrid is powered by a 421.7 PS engine that allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 kph in 5.5 seconds to a top speed of 270 kph. The car has an electric driving range of 36km in NEDC-based testing, and top speed is up to 135kph in pure electric drive mode with CO2 emissions of 71 g/km. The car uses a 9.4 kWh lithium-ion battery chargeable by external electricity as well as electrical system recuperation while driving. The car’s convenience functions are accessible via a smartphone app to be available in GCC countries from Q2/2014 onwards.
Porsche also presented the Executive models of the Panamera with a 15 cm longer wheelbase, liberating additional legroom behind the front seats.
The company’s all-new 3.0 litre V6 bi-turbo engine in the new Gran Turismo replaces the existing V8s in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. The engine offers increased power and torque by 20.2 PS and 20 Nm respectively, but with up to 18% higher fuel economy as compared to the previous model. The new Panamera GTS and Panamera Turbo will continue to be powered by the V8 engines.
The new Panamera is available for order now, with delivery of the first models expected from end-July 2013 onwards.
