2014 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid: 416 horsepower and 3.1 L/100 km!

Porsche can never be accused of being a poser when it comes to hybrid vehicle manufacturing. In fact, the first such vehicle was developed more than a century ago by none other than Ferdinand Porsche himself with the Lohner Porsche Mixte introduced in 1900! As innovative as it was, it just wasn’t a viable solution at the time. Not only did it require two people to operate it – one to drive and the other to look after the combustion engine and electric motor – but its performance was disappointing.

More than a hundred years later, and this prestigious manufacturer was finally ready to get back in the hybrid technology game. In 2010, Porsche offered hybrid versions of the Cayenne and the Panamera S, two models that were greeted with open arms by buyers. In fact, they dominated sales in the deluxe hybrid vehicle category. But Porsche isn’t one to rest on its laurels and has done it again this year with its plug-in Panamera S E-Hybrid.

Reduced engine speed equals lower fuel consumption

The philosophy behind the development of this new version is particularly interesting. In the past, performance cars were pretty much synonymous with engines capable of high speeds in order to maximize power and output. This time, the engineers developed a drivetrain that reduces the use of the combustion engine as much as possible in favour of the electric motor. Thus, the less it is used, the lower the average speed of the combustion engine and the more pollution is reduced. “Engine speed/kilometre” has become an important statistic.

A test done by the company’s researchers will help clarify things. On a course known as the “Stuttgart Driving Circuit” in the area around Stuttgart, they recorded 1,432 rpm for a fuel consumption of 9.9 L/100 km. Then, they looked at improvements brought about by activating various functions. For example, the stop/start function alone helps lower the number of revs to 1,350 and fuel consumption by 2 %. The coasting function, when the drivetrain disengages when the engine isn’t overtaxed, helps go even further by lowering the number of revs to 1,239 rpm, accompanied by a fuel consumption of 4% less. In free coasting, the internal combustion engine shuts off when the car is at higher speeds. The number of revs drops to 1,045 rpm, thereby creating a 10% fuel savings compared to the basic configuration.

To date, not all of these systems involve the hybrid technology. Now consider the parts of the trip in electric mode and the energy recovery offered by the first generation hybrid mechanics without rechargeable technology. That helps reduce fuel consumption by 23% - that’s more than double – with only 524 rpm. That’s nice, but thanks to the plug-in hybrid technology, the portion of the trip done purely in electric mode is equal to a quarter of the Stuttgart circuit and the number of revs drops to 318, all with a more powerful battery and electric motor. The 4.4 L/100 km represents a 56% improvement.

Finally, the average fuel consumption recorded by respecting the NEDC is 3.1 L/100 km since the simulated test around Stuttgart is more demanding than the European Cycle.

Technology

As for the Panamera S E-Hybrid’s mechanical design isn’t revolutionary or replete with futuristic technology. Instead, focus was placed on refining the components already used on the non-rechargeable hybrid version. However, the electric motor now produces 95 horsepower, some 48 more than the non-rechargeable Panamera S Hybrid. This power generates a lot more heat in the motor, which is cooled by air influx and flow of liquid.

To supply this motor with electric energy, engineers chose a high voltage lithium-ion battery capable of storing five times more energy than the previous generation’s nickel-metal hydride battery while keeping the same dimensions. It is housed compactly under the trunk floor. This battery supplies the electric motor located between the combustion engine and the transmission. Note that the Panamera S E-Hybrid’s driving range purely in electric mode is estimated at 36 km. In actuality, this figure can vary and Porsche indicates that the real driving range will be between 18 and 36 km.

Back is the Hybrid’s same supercharged V6 combustion engine that produces 333 horsepower. The total combined combustion/electric power is 416 hp. This helps it go from 0-100 km in 5.5 seconds while the maximum speed announced is 270 km/hr. Finally, exclusively in electric mode, you can reach a maximum speed of 135 km/hr. All this power is directed to the rear wheels by way of an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission.

Impressed passenger

The technical presentation of the new rechargeable E-Hybrid system used on the Panamera took place on the Hockenheim circuit, less than an hour’s drive from Frankfurt. But don’t be fooled – we didn’t actually do a road test on this famous F1 track. Perched comfortably in this circuit’s private boxes, we witnessed rather comprehensive and very interesting technical presentations. In the only road test, we took to the backseat of a Panamera S E-Hybrid while a factory pilot demonstrated multiple modes involving both the combustion engine and electric motor.

By default, the car always begins in electric mode unless the battery isn’t sufficiently charged. Then, once on the road, the driver can control various modes depending on road conditions, driving conditions or just according to mood. By pressing one of the control pads located to the right of the shifter mounted on the console, the driver can select E-Power mode to drive solely in electric mode. If it’s deactivated, the Panamera S E-Hybrid defaults to hybrid mode. In this configuration, the state of the high-voltage battery’s charge remains unchanged in order to keep sufficient electric driving range reserves for the forthcoming trips in town. It’s also possible to efficiently recharge the high-voltage battery during a trip via the E-Charge mode. Sport mode, combining all the power of both engines to provide very sporty performances and get the most out of the car’s excellent handling, rounds out the available options. Its efficiency is impressive.

Additionally, all these mode changes happen with utter smoothness. What’s more, the handling is always impeccable. For now, this Panamera S E-Hybrid is undoubtedly the most sophisticated and dynamic rechargeable hybrid car on the market.