New Porsche Panamera Hybrid World's Premiere in Geneva Motor Show 2011

Geneva Motor Show 2011
2011 Panamera Hybrid

Porsche just has unveiled the new Porsche Panamera S Hybrid at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The Panamera S Hybrid will be the German automaker’s second gasoline-electric production model, after the Cayenne S Hybrid. It features an all-new hybrid powertrain that promises to deliver an average fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km while offering a combined power output of 283kW.

The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is powered by a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 248kW of power. This engine is then supported by a 34kW electric motor. The electric motor draws it power from a nickel metal hydride (NiMh) battery pack. This power is then sent to the rear wheels. The petrol engine and the electric motor can be isolated, allowing the car to be driven in full-petrol or full-electric modes as well.

Porsche says the Panamera S Hybrid still offers sports car-like performance, too, and is capable of doing the 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.7 seconds and going on to a top speed of 270km/h – now that’s a hybrid. Official EPA fuel consumption ratings are yet to be announced, but the car is capable of achieving 6.8L/100km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), on optional low-resistance tyres – a figure of 7.1L/100km is capable on normal performance tyres.

In normal driving conditions, the petrol motor engine is switched off every time the accelerator pedal is relieved. In these circumstances the batteries for the electric motor are recharged thanks to regenerative technology.

The new model features a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack at a time when most competitors are making the shift to lithium-based batteries.

Standard equipment on the Panamera S Hybrid includes adaptive air suspension, Servotronic variable-assist power steering and Porsche Communication Management with navigation.

The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid will initially go on sale in the US during the end of this year, with prices starting at US$95,000.

New Porsche Panamera Hybrid premiere at Geneva – Video