2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

SPECIFICATIONS

1. An electric motor is paired to a 3.0L supercharged V6 to produce a combined 416 hp and 435 lb-ft of torque. 2. Official fuel economy numbers haven’t been released but Porsche estimates a significant bump from the standard hybrid model’s 22/30 MPG rating. 3. Pricing for the E-Hybrid will start at $99,000. 4. The E-Hybrid can travel 22 miles on pure electric power at speeds up to 83 mph.

PREVIEW

Those who do not like choice should never buy a Porsche, or any German vehicle for that matter.

Deutschland loves variety. The more engines, colors, body-styles and a la carte options the better. At last count Porsche’s Cayenne model is available with five different powerplants and there are no fewer than 13 editions of the 911. Not wanting to be left out of the family’s rapid spawn-a-thon, the Panamera is receiving a full model refresh this year and grows to nine separate models including Porsche’s first ever plug-in hybrid; the $99,000 E-Hybrid.

Correction, Porsche’s first ever plug-in hybrid sedan. The brand’s first plug-in model is none other than the spectacularly awesome, Nurburgring record-holding 918 Spyder.

INTERIOR

And like other luxury flagship sedans, this car features Beckham levels of posh-ness inside. Anyone familiar with the current Panamera will notice things haven't changed much for 2014. There’s still a plethora of buttons down the center console and the usual Porsche touchscreen interface. The only difference between the E-Hybrid and a regular Panamera on the inside is a unique gauge cluster that features bright green needles and an efficiency gauge replacing the speedometer. 

Back seat space is ample and anyone shorter than an NBA center should fit back there without issue. Depending on which option packages are selected, the rear seat area can feature dual zone climate controls as well as heated and cooled seats. Like most vehicles needing to store a large battery pack, the E-Hybird’s rear hatch space shrinks to 11.8 cubic feet compared to 15.7 in regular Panameras.

UNDER THE HOOD

The 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid replaces last year’s S Hybrid model and features a more powerful electric motor that doubles output to 95 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. Coupled to a familiar 3.0L supercharged V6 pumping out 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque the new powertrain makes a combined 416 hp and 435 lb-ft.

But the big news for the E-Hybrid is that this car is able to drive purely on electricity for extended periods of time, up to speeds of 83 mph.

But the coolest trick of the hybrid system has to be the gasoline engine’s ability to actually recharge the battery pack while driving. Press the E-charge button and unlike virtually every other hybrid out there, the gasoline engine, not just the regenerative brakes, will replenish the battery pack with sweet electrical juice while also powering the Panamera’s drivetrain.

Although power delivery is a bit choppy in this mode, the Panamera did add 13 miles of electric rangeback to the batteries in less than 40 minutes of twisting mountain driving. It's a no brainer for a plug-in hybrid really and a feature this humble reviewer has been saying the Chevrolet Volt needs ever since its inception.

Gas or electric, all power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic S transmission. Fuel economy for the Panamera S E-Hybrid is yet to be rated, but Porsche is expecting a significant bump from last year’s Hybrid’s ratings of 22 MPG city and 30 MPG highway and will obviously vary depending on how much electric-only driving is done.