2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo First Test

From its very definition, nobody wins when you undermine. This is particularly true if yoursquo;re a discerning vehicle enthusiast looking for a one-size-fits-all approach for your family automobile. More often than not, the automobiles that are most functional aren’t even especially enjoyable to drive, but sportier options are neither roomy nor effective. That equation becomes even more complex once you attract efficiency, fuel expenses, and climate change–causing emissions to the equation. Fortunately, it appears some issues may be solved by throwing money at themthe 2018 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is the ultimate be-all, end-all family car for the evolved (and allow ’therefore do this out of their way early–rich ) car enthusiast.

Practicality

You’re not likely to have the ability to market your significant other on a family vehicle when it isn’t even practical. Holding to the Volkswagen Group’s MSB system, the Panamera Sport Turismo stocks everything ahead of (and beneath) the B-pillar with its own non –Sport Turismo sibling. Behind that B-pillar is a revised roofline, ending in a tidy-looking tailgate. The already-roomy back seat benefits in the additional airiness supplied with a larger rear cargo area, and freight volume in the trunk balloons from 14.3 into 18.3 cubic feet.

The fold-flat back seat is tilted back a bit to improve headroom for taller passengers without ruining the roofline (as was the situation with the first-generation Panamera); legroom, but perhaps not limolike, is absolutely acceptable for many taller occupants.

Front railings are well taken care of, also, with comfy seats, near-SUV levels of visibility, and a large, easy-to-use Porsche Connect infotainment screen. Its only overlook –not enough cupholders or storage cubbies for family considerations.

Sportiness

Just like a Jeep has got to live up to the badge onto its own hood, a Porsche does, also. This hybrid station wagon delivers in spades there. Developed using technologies and know-how out of Porsche’s 918 Spyder hypercar and Le Mans–winning 919 Hybrid, the Panamera Sport Turismo pairs a 330-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 with a 136-hp electrical engine wedged between the six-cylinder and Porsche’s newest PDK eight-speed twin-clutch automatic. Its whole system output is really a not-insignificant 464 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. This ’s more power and more torque than the twin-turbo V-8-powered Panamera GTS.

Coupled with Porsche’s regular torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, our electrified Panamera station wagon was amazingly (sorry) fast at the track. Using its 14.1-kW-hr battery topped off and launching controller enabled, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and on throughout the quarter mile in 12.3 minutes at 112.7 mph.

Our 60–0 brake tests demonstrated the brakes to be milder and more prone to fade than people ’ve typically seen from Porsches. Its very best stop of 109 ft was followed by progressively longer stop distances. We suspect the Panamera E-Hybrid’s brakes attempting to scavenge for power is the offender. At any speed, Porsche presents carbon-ceramic brakes on the E-Hybrid, which ought to improve performance much.

Despite its own 5,016-pound curb weight, the Panamera does not have any trouble dancing via a corner or 2. Aided by the discretionary rear-axle steering system (at a fairly reasonable–for a Porsche–$1,620), this Sport Turismo lapped our figure-eight class in 24.4 minutes at 0.79 gram, and it averaged 0.96 g on the skidpad.

On the street, the Panamera E-Hybrid isalso, in one word, interesting. Given the complex dance going on involving the Porsche’s gasoline motor, electric motor, eight-speed transmission, electrical brakes, and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, you’d believe the vehicle would be constantly fighting itself. Instead, the systems are all in sync.

The stark differences between each of these Panamera’so four driveway modes were probably the most interesting to me personally. With its own battery full, E-Power mode is the default setting. Despite its small 16 miles of electrical range in this mode, this plug in hybrid does a brilliant job at mimicking the adventure of a classic full-size electrical vehicle, like a Tesla Model S. Aided by the PDK, the Panamera’s electrical motor makes the most of its 136 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. On electrons the Sport Turismo feels unnaturally quick, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 5-ish minutes. The gasoline engine just fires up in E-Power should you press the throttle past its kick-down stage or once you deplete the batterywhen the Panamera will transform to Hybrid Auto mode.

Hybrid Auto appears to be the very best of the two worlds involving full-electric E-Power and performance-optimized Sport and Sport Plus modes. In Hybrid Auto, the Panamera still prioritizes efficient electrical driving, however, it’ll fast fire up its V-6 when power is required or to charge the battery. You may also manually fire up the motor to either save the batterylife & rsquo;s state of cost or to charge the battery using the gasoline engine. The most remarkable thing is how unremarkable it all is. Save to your tach speeding up and down since the gasoline engine unobtrusively turns on and off, the driveway expertise is pure Porsche.

This ’s particularly true in Sport and Sport Plus modes. The most awesome thing to me is how grim this car accelerates considering all the variables from the powertrain–you get a punch in the gut in the electrical motor and all-wheel-drive system off the ground, then the Porsche’s V-6 picks up since the engine begins to get rid of steam. The result is a vehicle that pulls strongly up close to its 6,800-rpm redline prior to the transmission slingshots you to the next greatest gear.

As we saw at the monitor, the long-roof Panamera hybrid vehicle is happy to dance, also. Like the previous Panamera, the Sport Turismo pushes far smaller than it’s on twisty streets, thanks in part to its discretionary rear-wheel steering method. It’s easy to overdrive the vehicle at first because of how fast it turns in, but after you’re accustomed to the vehicle, it evolves to a corner superbly. When we’re nitpicking (also to be clear, I am), the Panamera’s only weakness is that its steering feel borders on gummy in fast, back-to-back bends.

Performance

And now we come to the reason why the Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is the ultimate household for the moneyed among ussimply put, no other automobile (save for possibly a Tesla Model S P100D) is very fast, enjoyable to drive, functional, and effective since the electrified Panamera wagon.

The 16 miles of range from the EPA rates the Panamera E-Hybrid’so battery is accurate, and you have access to some Level two charger, it just takes around three hours to the Porsche’s battery to charge back up. Even with its small 14.1-kW-hr battery (and while only charging any day)I was able to drive 122 miles on the battery pack and electric motor alone, according to the Panamera’s trip computer. Driven as a hybrid vehicle with the battery pack depleted, I averaged a hair more than 23 mpg, 1 mpg better than the Sport Turismo’therefore 22-mpg EPA combined rating.

At 22 mpg, the Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo ain’t just a Prius–however ’s just the purpose. No vehicle in its own peer class, such as heavyweights such as the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic or even BMW 740e xDrive, thus capably balances functionality with efficacy. Yeah, at $118,150 it’so pricey, but thinking about it’s capable sports car, family hauler, and comparative efficacy, shouldn’t it be?

Finally the value of automobiles such as the Panamera E-Hybrid goes beyond just how fast and effective it’s –functionality hybrids such as this Porsche help alter the public understanding of electrified vehicles. As the world slowly shifts into battery electric vehicles, automobiles such as the Panamera Sport Turismo E-Hybrid will behave as the stepping stone by showing the world that you really can get your cakeand eat it, too.

2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

BASE PRICE
$105,050

PRICE AS TESTED
$118,150

VEHICLE LAYOUT
Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door wagon

ENGINE
2.9L/330-hp/331-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 and 136-hp/295-lb-ft electrical engine; 464 hp/516 lb-ft combined

TRANSMISSION
8-speed twin-clutch auto

CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)
5,016 lb (48/52%)

WHEELBASE
116.1 at LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT
198.8 x 76.3 x 56.0 in

TEST DATA

ACCELERATION TO MPH

0-30
1.2 sec

0-40
1.9

0-50
2.8

0-60
3.7

0-70
4.9

0-80
6.3

0-90
7.8

0-100
9.7

0-100-0
13.9

PASSING, 45-65 MPH
2.0

QUARTER MILE
12.3 sec @ 112.7 miles BRAKING, 60-0 MPH
109 feet LATERAL ACCELERATION
0.96 gram (avg)

MT FIGURE EIGHT
24.4 sec @ 0.79 gram (avg)

TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH
1,200 rpm

EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON
20/25/22 mpg

ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY
169/135 kW-hrs/100 miles

CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB
0.88 lb/mile

The article 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo First Test appeared first on Motortrend.

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